Vanparys Confiserie B.V. is a Belgian

confectionery Confectionery is the art of making confections, which are food items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confectionery is divided into two broad and somewhat overlapping categories ...

company created in 1769 by Felix Vanparys in Brussels, near Sablon, Belgium. The company produces chocolate and sugar-coated confections but specializes in dragées (sugar-coated chocolate and almonds), which feature often in

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and

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ic traditions and celebrations. The recipe and the preparation of its dragées, dating back over 125 years ago, are still followed today. In 2012, Vanparys extended its selection confections to include a range of chocolate-coated

nuts Nut often refers to: * Nut (fruit), fruit composed of a hard shell and a seed, or a collective noun for dry and edible fruits or seeds * Nut (hardware), fastener used with a bolt Nut or Nuts may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Com ...

, fruits, and coffee beans – as well as a variety of seasonal confectioneries such as praliné eggs and fondant chicks for Easter. Each season, Vanparys introduces a range of new

colours Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associa ...

to its palette. Vanparys sweets - Easter products 01

Presently, the company is located in Evere, Brussels, and exports to many countries including the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, UK, Germany, Poland,

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, Turkey, Tunisia,

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, and Portugal.

History

1889–1945: Early history

The Vanparys

business was created in 1769 when Felix Vanparys founded a small enterprise in Brussels on Ernest Allard Street specializing in the production of sugar-coated chocolate and

almond The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ...

s, otherwise known as dragées. In 1922, Emile Vanparys (Felix's nephew) took control and relocated the growing production line to larger premises in Brussels. He improved the coating technique while also making the sweets more accessible in price. When

s grew scarce due to a bad

harvest Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...

across Europe, Emile decided to replace them with an almond-shaped nugget of chocolate. This new type of dragée was eventually copied by the competition and has since become more popular across Europe than the traditional almond ones. By 1935, the Vanparys business had grown to 80 employees, but over the next few years production faltered due to the Second World War.

1945–1998

Progress resumed when the war ended. In 1945, Constant Vanparys took over the family business, and when its competitors had to stop producing dragées due to tough economic conditions, Vanparys recruited their staff. In 1957, Princess Grace of Monaco opted for yellow color dragées for the christening of her daughter

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, which led to the fact that colors other than blue, rose and white, came into vogue. Following that trend, Vanparys also expanded its range and introduced 25 additional colors the same year.

Modern history

In 1990, the Belgian confectioner André De Greef, together with his two sons, assumed control of the company, the first non-family members to do so. Under their stewardship, much of the factory, based in Evere, Brussels was renovated.

Product range

Original collection

* ''Chocolate Dragées'' * ''Almond Dragées'' * ''Chocolate & Sweet Mini Dragées'' * ''Gold & Silver'' Screen Shot 2014-10-17 at 13

Gourmet collection

* ''Chocolate Coated Whole Fruit'' * ''Chocolate Coated Almonds and Hazelnuts'' * ''Chocolate Coated Almonds with a Fruity Sugar Coating'' * ''Coffee & Chocolate'' Vanparys sweets - Cake decorations 02

Cake Decorations

* ''Vanparys Mini Range (confettis, mini-confettis and mini hearts)'' * ''Silver & Gold (gold and silver pastry and cake toppings)'' * ''Fondant Jesus (sugar baby Jesus figurine)'' * ''Fondant Hen'' * ''Non Pareil (colourful, extra small mini pearls)''

Easter Products

* ''Praliné Eggs (praliné eggs with a crunchy sugar coating)''

References

{{Reflist Food and drink companies based in Brussels Food and drink companies established in 1889 Manufacturing companies based in Brussels Belgian companies established in 1889