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. Its main office and factory are in a village called Vaassen in the Netherlands. Droste is part of a German candy company named Hosta, but it runs its own business.
Contents
The Sweet Story of Droste Chocolate
How Droste Began
Droste was started by Gerardus Johannes Droste in 1863 in the city of Haarlem, Netherlands. At first, it was a candy shop selling different kinds of sweets. One of their first and most popular products was the Droste chocolate pastilles, which are still sold today!
As the company grew, G.J. Droste opened its first factory in 1890. This factory was in the same building as the shop. Soon, they needed more space. So, in 1891, the factory moved to a new spot by the Spaarne river. This was a great move because raw materials like cocoa beans could arrive by boat. Also, finished chocolates could be shipped out easily by water, helping them reach more people.
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 special Dutch chocolate letters. Even with big competitors, Droste became very popular in the Netherlands and other countries.
In 1898, Droste was given a special honor. They were allowed to use the coat of arms of queen dowager Emma. This showed how well-known and respected the company had become. After 1900, Droste started sending its products to Belgium, Germany, and France. By 1905, their chocolates even reached the American market!
The Famous Droste Nurse
Around 1900, a special picture started appearing on Droste products. It showed a woman dressed as a nurse, holding a tray with a cup of milk and a Droste cocoa package. People believe an artist named Jan Misset created this picture. He might have been inspired by an old painting called La Belle Chocolatière.
This image was meant to show that chocolate milk was healthy and good for you. It quickly became a symbol for the Droste brand. What's really cool about this picture is that the nurse is holding a cocoa package that also has the same nurse picture on it! This creates a repeating image inside an image, which is now known as the Droste effect.
Challenges During World Wars
During the First World War, it was hard for Droste to get the materials they needed. This made it difficult to make chocolate. After the war, Gerardus Johannes Droste junior helped the company slowly get back on track.
In 1920, Droste became a public company called Droste's Cacao- en Chocoladefabrieken N.V. By 1930, over 800 people worked at the factory in Haarlem. About 25 salespeople traveled around the Netherlands, telling candy shops about Droste products. The brand became known worldwide, and Droste opened offices in cities like London, Paris, New York, and Chicago. From 1920 to 1940, Droste chocolates were sent all over the world by ships and trains.
The company faced another tough time during the Second World War. Bombs from Allied aircraft damaged part of the factory. This caused production and sales to drop quickly, and eventually, they stopped making chocolate altogether for a while.
Bouncing Back After the War
After 1945, Droste slowly recovered from the war. It took some time to get back to making and selling as much chocolate as before. Raw materials were still hard to find, so Droste could only sell its products in the Netherlands at first. They wanted to make sure their quality was perfect before exporting again.
Five years later, in 1950, Droste was able to send its high-quality products to other countries again. In 1947, the founder's grandsons, Jan and Martinus Droste, became managers. Under their leadership, the business grew a lot. By the early 1960s, Droste had over 1000 employees! They exported 40% of their chocolate to 60 different countries. In 1961, they even opened a new cocoa factory.
In 1964, the company received a special "Royal" title and was renamed Koninklijke Droste Fabrieken N.V. During this time, many parts of the chocolate-making process became automated, meaning machines did more of the work.
In 1975, Droste became part of a larger food company called Van Nelle. This meant the Droste family no longer owned the company independently. Later, in 1977, Droste became directly owned by an American company called Standard Brands. Because it was now owned by an American company, Droste could no longer use the "Royal" title. So, the company's name changed to Droste Fabrieken B.V.
Droste Today
In 1986, Droste moved its production to Vaassen. A new factory opened there in 1988. In 1990, Droste was bought by another company called CSM. CSM made new and exciting commercials for Droste, which helped make the brand feel fresh and modern again.
In 1997, Droste was sold to Hosta, a German company. 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. Droste 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
