Droste facts for kids
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| Besloten Vennootschap | |
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1863 in Haarlem |
| Founder | Gerardus J. Droste |
| Headquarters | Vaassen, Netherlands |
| Products | Chocolate |
| Parent | Hosta |
Droste B.V. is a famous Dutch company that makes chocolate. Their main office and factory are in the village of Vaassen, in the Netherlands. Droste is part of a German candy company called Hosta, but it runs its own business.
Contents
The Sweet Story of Droste Chocolate
Droste was started by Gerardus Johannes Droste in 1863. He opened his first candy shop in the city of Haarlem, Netherlands. At first, he sold many kinds of sweets. One of his most popular items was the Droste chocolate pastilles. You can still buy these tasty chocolates today!
As the company became more popular, Mr. Droste needed more space. In 1890, he opened his first factory. It was in the same building as his shop. But soon, even that wasn't enough room.
In 1891, the factory moved to a new spot. This new place was right by the Spaarne river. This was a great idea! Boats could easily bring in raw materials like cocoa beans. They could also ship out the finished chocolates. This made it much easier to get Droste products to customers.
Growing Bigger and Better
In 1897, Gerardus J. Droste's sons took over the company. By then, Droste made many different cocoa and chocolate products. This included the famous Dutch chocolate letters.
Droste chocolates were becoming very popular. They sold well in the Netherlands and in other countries. Even with bigger chocolate makers around, Droste did very well. In 1898, Droste was given a special honor. They were allowed to use the coat of arms of Queen Emma.
After 1900, Droste started sending its products to Belgium, Germany, and France. In 1905, they even started selling in America!
The Famous Nurse Picture
Have you ever seen the picture of a woman in a nurse's uniform? She is holding a tray with a cup of milk and a Droste cocoa package. This famous picture first appeared on Droste products around 1900.
Many people believe an artist named Jan Misset created it. He might have been inspired by an old painting called La Belle Chocolatière. The picture was meant to show that chocolate milk was healthy. It quickly became a symbol of the Droste brand.
Look closely at the picture. The nurse is holding a cocoa package. On that package, there's another picture of the nurse holding a cocoa package. And on that package, there's another nurse! This repeating image is now known as the Droste effect.
Through Tough Times
During the First World War, it was hard to get raw materials. This made it difficult for Droste to make chocolate. After the war, things slowly got better. Gerardus Johannes Droste junior helped the company grow again.
In 1920, Droste became a public company. It was called Droste's Cacao- en Chocoladefabrieken N.V. By 1930, more than 800 people worked at the factory in Haarlem. Salespeople traveled all over the Netherlands to sell Droste products.
Droste became known all over the world. They opened offices in places like London, Paris, and New York. From 1920 to 1940, Droste products were sent worldwide by ships and trains.
In 1932, the company faced another challenge. A big stock market crash meant they had to cut working hours. Things got even harder during the Second World War. The factory was damaged, and production almost stopped completely.
After the Wars
After 1945, Droste slowly recovered. It took time to get back to making and selling as much chocolate as before. Raw materials were still hard to find. For a while, Droste could only sell its products in the Netherlands.
Five years later, things improved. Droste could once again make high-quality products for both local and international markets. In 1947, the founder's grandsons, Jan and Martinus Droste, became managers. Under their leadership, the company grew a lot.
By the early 1960s, Droste had over 1000 employees. They exported 40% of their chocolate to 60 different countries. In 1961, a new cocoa factory was opened.
In 1964, the company received a special "Royal" title. Its name changed to Koninklijke Droste Fabrieken N.V. Around this time, many parts of the chocolate-making process became automated. This meant fewer people had to do manual labor.
In 1975, Droste became part of a bigger company called Van Nelle. This meant the Droste family no longer owned the company independently. Later, Droste became directly owned by an American company called Standard Brands. Because it was owned by an American company, Droste could no longer use the "Royal" title. So, the name changed to Droste Fabrieken B.V.
Droste Today
In 1986, Droste moved its main production to Vaassen. The old factory in Haarlem was still used for a short time. But in 1988, a new factory opened in Vaassen.
In 1990, Droste changed owners again. It was bought by a food company called CSM. CSM made new and exciting commercials for Droste. This helped to make the brand feel fresh and modern.
In 1997, Droste was sold to a company called Hosta. Today, Droste B.V. is still owned by Hosta. But it runs as its own business unit in Vaassen. Since Hosta took over, Droste's sales have gone up a lot. It is now one of the biggest cocoa producers in the Netherlands.
Products Gallery
Chocolate Packaging
Cocoa Tins
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See also
In Spanish: Droste para niños
