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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
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
and
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
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. Presently, the company is located in Evere, Brussels, and exports to many countries including the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, UK, Germany, Poland,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, Turkey, Tunisia,
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, and Portugal.


History


1889–1945: Early history

The Vanparys
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 ...
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
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 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
Princess Caroline of Monaco Princess Caroline of Monaco (Caroline Louise Marguerite; born 23 January 1957) is, by her marriage to Prince Ernst August, the Princess of Hanover. As the eldest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly, she is the elder sister ...
, 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''


Gourmet collection

* ''Chocolate Coated Whole Fruit'' * ''Chocolate Coated Almonds and Hazelnuts'' * ''Chocolate Coated Almonds with a Fruity Sugar Coating'' * ''Coffee & Chocolate''


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