Neuhaus (chocolatier) facts for kids
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| Industry | Chocolatier |
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| Founded | 1857 in Brussels, Belgium |
| Founder | Jean Neuhaus |
| Headquarters |
Belgium
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Products | Luxury chocolates, chocolate truffles, biscuits and ice cream |
| Owner | Compagnie Du Bois Sauvage SA |
Neuhaus is a famous Belgian company that makes delicious chocolates. They sell fancy chocolates, chocolate truffles, biscuits (cookies), and even ice cream. The company was started in 1857 by Jean Neuhaus, who came from Switzerland. He opened his first shop in a beautiful place called the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in central Brussels, Belgium.
Later, in 1912, his grandson, Jean Neuhaus II, invented something super special: the chocolate praline. A praline is a small, filled chocolate. It has a yummy chocolate cream inside a chocolate shell. This was the first time anyone made a chocolate with a soft filling!
Today, Neuhaus chocolates are sold in over 1,500 places in 50 different countries. All Neuhaus products are still made in Vlezenbeek, a town near Brussels. From there, they are sent all over the world. In 2000, the company was given a special honor: they became an official supplier to the Belgian Royal Court.
Contents
The Story of Neuhaus Chocolates
Jean Neuhaus came to Brussels from Switzerland in 1857. He opened a shop that sold medicines, called an apothecary. His shop was in the Galeries Royales, close to the famous Grand-Place.
At first, he had a clever idea. He would cover medicines with chocolate to make them taste better and easier to take! Soon, he started selling other tasty treats too. These included liquorice, guimauves (which are like marshmallows), and dark chocolate bars. These sweet treats quickly became more popular than the medicines!
From Medicine to Sweets
Jean's son, Frédéric, helped him in the shop. They spent more and more time creating and inventing new delicious candies. Slowly, the regular medicines in the shop were replaced by these wonderful sweets.
The Invention of the Praline
In 1912, Frédéric passed away. That same year, his son, Jean II, made a big discovery. He created the very first chocolate-filled candies, which he called pralines. People loved them right away!
The Ballotin Box
After the pralines became popular, another smart idea came along. Jean's wife, Louise Agostini, noticed a problem. The delicious pralines were getting squashed when people carried them home in paper bags.
So, in 1915, Louise and Jean worked together to create a special box. This box was designed to protect the chocolates. It became known as the ballotin box. This new box design was so good that they got a patent for it. A patent means no one else can copy your invention without permission.
Growing the Business
Jean's son-in-law, Adelson de Gavre, took over the company next. In 1958, he created some very famous pralines, like the "Caprice" and the "Tentation." These new chocolates were first shown at a big event called Expo 58.
Adelson's wife, Suzanne Neuhaus, was very good at decorating and wrapping gifts. The company grew bigger and bigger. Soon, Neuhaus shops opened all over Belgium and in other countries too. The first Neuhaus chocolate shop in the United States opened in New York City in 1999.
Neuhaus Today
Today, Neuhaus still makes its traditional pralines. But they also offer many other chocolate treats. You can find chocolate bars, small individual chocolates called "BonBons," and even hot chocolate mixes.
They are also famous for their chocolate truffles. In 2017, a news company called Bloomberg Pursuits even said that Neuhaus made the best chocolate truffle in the world!
Neuhaus is also careful about where their ingredients come from. Their chocolate is 100% UTZ Certified. This means the cocoa beans are grown in a way that is good for people and the planet. All their chocolates are made with natural ingredients. They are still made entirely in Belgium. About 25% of their chocolate is made with cocoa from Neuhaus's very own cocoa farm!
See also
