Royce' facts for kids
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| Private K.K. | |
| Industry | Foods |
| Founded | July 1983 |
| Headquarters | Sapporo, Japan |
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Key people
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Yasuhiro Yamazaki (President) |
| Products | Chocolates |
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Number of employees
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700 (2009) |
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Royce' Confect Co., Ltd., known simply as ROYCE, is a famous Japanese company that makes delicious chocolates. They are especially known for their "Nama Chocolate." This special chocolate is like a smooth, creamy treat called ganache. It's made with melted cacao and fresh cream, then lightly dusted with fine cocoa powder.
Contents
The Story of Royce' Chocolates
How Royce' Began
Royce' started in July 1983 in Hokkaidō, Japan. Hokkaidō is an island about 500 miles north of Tokyo. By November of that same year, Royce' began making its first chocolates. The company grew slowly at first. In September 1985, Royce' introduced its first chocolate bar. This was a big step for them.
Growing Bigger in the 1990s
In the 1990s, Royce' became a major player in the candy world, especially in Asia. In 1990, they launched their Pure Chocolate line. The very first Royce' shop opened in May 1993. It was called the "Higashi Naebo Main Shop." This shop sold Royce' chocolates and souvenirs. Royce' also started making cookies in 1993.
The Famous Nama Chocolate
A very important moment for Royce' was in 1995. This is when they introduced their Nama Chocolate product line. Nama chocolate quickly became a favorite for the company. As mentioned, it's a type of ganache made with melted cacao and fresh cream. It's then dusted with fine cocoa powder. The word nama means raw in Japanese. Nama chocolate is a special kind of Japanese chocolate.
Expanding Across Japan
In 1996, Royce' set up a delivery center. This helped them get their products to more customers. In March 1997, the company opened a sales shop in downtown Sapporo. This was their first shop in the city where their main office is now. The shop was inside a big department store called Mitsukoshi.
By June 1997, people in Sapporo knew the Royce' brand well. So, the company moved its main office to Sapporo. They also launched a new chocolate brand called Truffle. A new distribution center opened in November. Royce' began selling its chocolates in airports in Hokkaidō, including Chitose Airport.
By June 1998, Royce' had its own internet website. This made it easier for people to find their chocolates. In July 1999, Royce' opened a new factory in Futomi. In September of that year, the company moved its main office again, but stayed in Sapporo.
New Ways to Shop
In December 2000, Royce' launched an online store. This meant people could buy their chocolates from home. Around that time, the company also started advertising in All Nippon Airways' inflight magazine. By 2002, Royce' even began selling bakery products.
What Does the Name Royce' Mean?
The name Royce' comes from the first name of the company's founder, Yasuhiro Yamazaki. It's a bit of a clever play on words! The sounds in his name were rearranged and changed slightly to create "Royce'." It was then spelled in English as ROYCE'.
Delicious Royce' Chocolate Products
Royce' makes many different kinds of chocolates and sweets. Some of their popular products include:
- Dacquoise
- Financier
- Lurumaro Chocola
- Madeleines
- Nama Chocolate
- Nutty Bar Chocolate
- Petite Truffe
- Royce' Chocolate Bars
- Royce' Pure Chocolate
- Potato Chip Chocolate
- Popcorn
- Baton Cookies
- Wafers
- Prafeuille Chocolat
- Criollo Chocolate
- Namachoco Croissant
Where to Find Royce' Chocolates
Royce' has many stores. As of 2021, they had 13 main stores across Japan. They are also very well-known for their duty-free shops in airports. There are 29 Royce' shops in Japanese airports. The company sends its products directly to customers in Japan from its factories.
Royce' also has stores in 16 countries outside Japan. In the United States, they have 15 stores. Some of these shops offer same-day delivery or pick-up services through apps like Grubhub and Uber Eats. Royce' Confect USA also sells directly to customers in the main parts of the U.S. through its online store.
In March 2020, the company closed all 9 of its stores in South Korea. Royce' said that sales were dropping, which led them to leave the country.
See also
