The Droste Pastilles have always been popular in our shop - here's a quite a bit about their history - taken from their web site
1863 - 1918 From Confectioner To Chocolate Producer
The confectionery business of Gerardus Johannes Droste was opened in Haarlem in the summer of 1863. Customers could buy a cup of waterchocolate and various types of candy, for example chocolate pastilles, officially called 'Pastilles Droste'. The first Droste factory of the firm G.J. Droste opened its doors on August 2nd 1890.
Since 1891 Droste had been able to allocate the complete chocolate process in-house. The cocoa beans were stored in the loft, while sales took place in the retail store. This continued until 1946. Because of a lack of room, the factory was relocated to the Noorder Buiten Spaarne in 1891. It was in this plant were the production of cocoa and chocolate started. This waterside location was very favourable for Droste, enabling the delivery of raw materials and the transport of finished products by boat.
On March 1st 1897 Gerardus Johannes Droste handed over the leadership of the Droste plant to his sons. By then, Droste's assortment had grown to innumerable chocolate figures, pastilles, cocoa, and not to forget the famous chocolate initials. In 1898 Droste was officially entitled to use the coat of arms of Queen-widow Emma. By the turn of the 20th century Droste started exporting to Belgium, Germany and France. In the year 1905 Droste entered the American market.
Around the year 1900 the illustration of the "nurse" appeared on Droste's cocoa tins. This is most probably invented by the commercial artist Jan (Johannes) Musset, who had been inspired by a pastel of the Swiss painter Jean Etienne Liotard "La serveuse de chocolat", also known as "La belle chocolatière". The illustration indicated the wholesome effect of chocolate milk and became inextricably bound with the name Droste.
Jan Coenraad Droste, the son of the founder Gerardus Johannes Droste, retired for health reasons in 1909. At that time businesses went up for Droste and the number of employees increased steadily. During the First World War Droste had to face serious production difficulties due to a shortage of raw materials.
1939 - 1945 Dark Times
During the Second World War, a bombardment by Allied aircraft, caused considerable damage to the cardboard department. As a result, production and sales of Droste declined rapidly and eventually stopped.
1945 - 1975 The Postwar Period
After the Second World War Droste recovered from the damage sustained during the war. In the first years Droste did not want to export its products, due to a lack of raw materials and pre-war quality could not be achieved. This phase gradually changed. It was the availability of foreign currency that lead to an increase in exports. Five years after the war Droste was able, once again, to supply quality products to the home and abroad market.
In 1947 Jan and Martinus Droste, grandsons of the founder, were appointed managers. Under their management, business was improving. In the early part of the 1960s Droste counted a workforce of over 1000 employees. 40 per cent of the production was exported to 60 different countries. In the year 1961 a new cocoa-factory had been opened.
In 1964 the factory received the "Royal" designation. Droste's new name became: Koninklijke Droste Fabrieken N.V. In this period, the plant was automated and manual production now belonged to the past. However, the market changed and difficulties, caused by a huge rise in production costs, caused problems for Droste.
1975 - 1997 Droste No Longer Independent
In 1975 J. Van Nelle, took over the share capital of Droste. With this, the family business became part of a fast expanding food/tobacco group. The joint proprietor of Van Nelle, at that time, was Standard Brands Incorporated from New York. However, the, world-famous brand name Droste still continued as a diverse trademark within this food/tobacco group.
By the year 1977 Droste's ownership was transmitted to Standard Brands Incorporated. Because of the transmittal to an American company, the 'Royal' title had to be taken away from all Droste products. The name was then changed into Droste Fabrieken B.V. By the year 1985 Van Nelle separated itself from Standard Brands, which was, in turn, taken over by Nabisco. In 1986 the production of Droste was transferred to Vaassen, Gelderland.
The old production location in Haarlem continued as Dutch Cocoa & Chocolate Company B.V. A new factory was opened in Vaassen, in 1988. It was also in this year that Van Nelle had been taken over by Sara Lee/D.E. Two years later the Dutch sugar- and food concern CSM, bought Droste.
Within CSM-company Droste was classified to confectionery business-unit, where Red Band and Venco also belonged to. The management now wanted to focus on the accessibility and distribution of Droste products.
1997 - Now Droste Becomes Independent Again
On January 1st 1997 Droste was sold to the Swiss based company, Hosta. Droste B.V, is still an independent company in Vaassen, Gelderland. Since then sales have strongly increased and Droste has become one of the biggest users of cocoa in the Netherlands. 65% of the sales are in more than 20 countries.
Also as a part of the Hosta group, Droste still operates as an independent business unit. DrosteDroste is very much concerned with inventing and launching new flavours and shapes of delicious chocolate, never losing sight of the fundemental credo, "The Real Taste Of Chocolate".
1863 - 1918 From Confectioner To Chocolate Producer
The confectionery business of Gerardus Johannes Droste was opened in Haarlem in the summer of 1863. Customers could buy a cup of waterchocolate and various types of candy, for example chocolate pastilles, officially called 'Pastilles Droste'. The first Droste factory of the firm G.J. Droste opened its doors on August 2nd 1890. Since 1891 Droste had been able to allocate the complete chocolate process in-house. The cocoa beans were stored in the loft, while sales took place in the retail store. This continued until 1946. Because of a lack of room, the factory was relocated to the Noorder Buiten Spaarne in 1891. It was in this plant were the production of cocoa and chocolate started. This waterside location was very favourable for Droste, enabling the delivery of raw materials and the transport of finished products by boat.
On March 1st 1897 Gerardus Johannes Droste handed over the leadership of the Droste plant to his sons. By then, Droste's assortment had grown to innumerable chocolate figures, pastilles, cocoa, and not to forget the famous chocolate initials. In 1898 Droste was officially entitled to use the coat of arms of Queen-widow Emma. By the turn of the 20th century Droste started exporting to Belgium, Germany and France. In the year 1905 Droste entered the American market.
Around the year 1900 the illustration of the "nurse" appeared on Droste's cocoa tins. This is most probably invented by the commercial artist Jan (Johannes) Musset, who had been inspired by a pastel of the Swiss painter Jean Etienne Liotard "La serveuse de chocolat", also known as "La belle chocolatière". The illustration indicated the wholesome effect of chocolate milk and became inextricably bound with the name Droste.
Jan Coenraad Droste, the son of the founder Gerardus Johannes Droste, retired for health reasons in 1909. At that time businesses went up for Droste and the number of employees increased steadily. During the First World War Droste had to face serious production difficulties due to a shortage of raw materials.
1939 - 1945 Dark Times
During the Second World War, a bombardment by Allied aircraft, caused considerable damage to the cardboard department. As a result, production and sales of Droste declined rapidly and eventually stopped.
1945 - 1975 The Postwar Period
After the Second World War Droste recovered from the damage sustained during the war. In the first years Droste did not want to export its products, due to a lack of raw materials and pre-war quality could not be achieved. This phase gradually changed. It was the availability of foreign currency that lead to an increase in exports. Five years after the war Droste was able, once again, to supply quality products to the home and abroad market. In 1947 Jan and Martinus Droste, grandsons of the founder, were appointed managers. Under their management, business was improving. In the early part of the 1960s Droste counted a workforce of over 1000 employees. 40 per cent of the production was exported to 60 different countries. In the year 1961 a new cocoa-factory had been opened.
In 1964 the factory received the "Royal" designation. Droste's new name became: Koninklijke Droste Fabrieken N.V. In this period, the plant was automated and manual production now belonged to the past. However, the market changed and difficulties, caused by a huge rise in production costs, caused problems for Droste.
1975 - 1997 Droste No Longer Independent
In 1975 J. Van Nelle, took over the share capital of Droste. With this, the family business became part of a fast expanding food/tobacco group. The joint proprietor of Van Nelle, at that time, was Standard Brands Incorporated from New York. However, the, world-famous brand name Droste still continued as a diverse trademark within this food/tobacco group.
By the year 1977 Droste's ownership was transmitted to Standard Brands Incorporated. Because of the transmittal to an American company, the 'Royal' title had to be taken away from all Droste products. The name was then changed into Droste Fabrieken B.V. By the year 1985 Van Nelle separated itself from Standard Brands, which was, in turn, taken over by Nabisco. In 1986 the production of Droste was transferred to Vaassen, Gelderland.
The old production location in Haarlem continued as Dutch Cocoa & Chocolate Company B.V. A new factory was opened in Vaassen, in 1988. It was also in this year that Van Nelle had been taken over by Sara Lee/D.E. Two years later the Dutch sugar- and food concern CSM, bought Droste.
Within CSM-company Droste was classified to confectionery business-unit, where Red Band and Venco also belonged to. The management now wanted to focus on the accessibility and distribution of Droste products.
1997 - Now Droste Becomes Independent Again
On January 1st 1997 Droste was sold to the Swiss based company, Hosta. Droste B.V, is still an independent company in Vaassen, Gelderland. Since then sales have strongly increased and Droste has become one of the biggest users of cocoa in the Netherlands. 65% of the sales are in more than 20 countries.
Also as a part of the Hosta group, Droste still operates as an independent business unit. DrosteDroste is very much concerned with inventing and launching new flavours and shapes of delicious chocolate, never losing sight of the fundemental credo, "The Real Taste Of Chocolate".
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