Galler (chocolate) facts for kids
Galler is a famous Belgian company that makes delicious chocolates. It was started in 1976 and has its main office in a small village called Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, near the city of Liège in Belgium. Galler sells many tasty products like chocolate bars, special filled chocolates called pralines, macarons, ice cream, and chocolate spreads. They also have their own chocolate shops in different places.
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How Galler Started
Jean Galler, the founder, was born in Liège, Belgium, on February 6, 1955. He began learning about baking and sweets at a young age. He even worked as an apprentice in his grandfather's bakery, which started in 1930. When he was just 19 years old, he was recognized as the Best Apprentice in Belgium.
After that, Jean Galler went to Switzerland to learn more about making pastries and chocolates. He also did an internship in Paris, France, in 1975. He loved chocolate very much.
When he was 21, Jean Galler had the chance to take over an old chocolate factory. So, in 1976, he and his father created the Galler Chocolate Factory in Vaux-sous-Chèvremont. This was the beginning of the Galler company we know today.
Special Honors and Fun Creations
In 1994, Galler became an "Official Supplier by Appointment to the Court of Belgium." This means they were chosen to supply chocolates to the Belgian Royal Family, which is a very special honor! The next year, Jean Galler was named "manager of the year" by a Belgian magazine.
Around the same time, Jean Galler worked with a famous cartoonist named Philippe Geluck. They created a fun chocolate product called "Langues de Chat," which means "Cat's Tongues." These chocolates featured Geluck's popular cartoon character, Le Chat (The Cat). Later, they changed the name to "Les Chocolats du Chat" to avoid confusion with cookies that had a similar name.
Growing Around the World
By 2013, the Galler chocolate factory was selling its products in more than 30 countries. They also had their own network of franchised shops in Belgium and other countries. The very first Galler shop opened in 1995 in Brussels, on the famous Grand-Place.
In 2002, Galler received an "Innovation Award" for their "Chocolate-Tea" concept. These were special tasting rooms where people could enjoy chocolate in many forms and try different kinds of tea from around the world.
Galler chocolates, especially "Les Chocolats du Chat," are sent to many countries. These include France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
New Owners and Fair Trade
In 2006, two members of the Qatari royal family, Sheikh Sultan and Sheikh Mohamed, invested in Galler. They bought a part of the company. Over the next few years, they invested more money, and by 2012, the Qatari family became the main owners of Galler.
In May 2018, the Qatari owners increased their shares even more and took full control of the company. Jean Galler, the founder, stepped down from leading the company to focus on creating new chocolates and on communication. Since November 5, 2018, the Qatari family has been the sole owner. However, they wanted to keep the company's Belgian roots. Galler chocolates are still made in Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, where about 170 people work.
In July 2020, a group of Belgian investors bought 25% of the company. They wanted to help Galler grow in a way that is ethical and responsible. One important change they made was to start using 100% fair trade certified cocoa beans since 2020. This means the cocoa farmers get a fair price for their work. After this, Galler changed its logo to say "Independent chocolate factory."
