D. & M. Grootes

D. & M. Grootes was a chocolate manufacturer in Amsterdam - Westzaan in the Netherlands and publisher of picture postcards .

history

"Really demanded everywhere. CACAO GROOTES"
advertising print on a postcard from Ludwig Hemmer

The beginnings

The brothers Dirk and Meyert Grootes founded their family business in 1825 . Initially, they ground spices , grains, and even lapis lazuli . Only later in 1844 were cocoa and chocolate added, which were sold under the brand name “Grootes”. In 1871 the company became supplier to the court of the Royal Family of Holland and the Imperial Family of Austria with its fine chocolates . As a result, a bird of paradise , the “trademark of the countries of the cocoa bean”, was integrated into the family's coat of arms .

Cacao Grootes

One of the company's trademarks was the cocoa powder Cacao-Grootes ; as early as 1898 the brand was "awarded 31 times". The company advertised, especially in Germany, by printing postcards with advertising slogans such as " Requires 4 postcards for free for every pound of genuine Dutch" Cacao-Grootes ". However, advertising brands are also known as an advertising medium .

After the world exhibition Brussels International - 1910 , the company's cocoa was awarded the title “World Cocoa”. Further awards followed later.

Panadoro Group and Veripan

Production in Westzaan ceased after almost 150 years. Meiert Johan Grootes , the youngest member of the 7th generation, founded the Panadoro Group in Zug in Switzerland in 1992 with Swiss partners . The company includes the Veripan AG think tank in Matzingen , which became internationally famous for the invention of a revolutionary concept for the production of concentrated pre-dough based on the biotechnological processing of by- products from milling . This innovation for the baked goods industry is marketed worldwide under the brand name PANATURA . The Bakery Café franchise system Cakefriends , which deals with the sale of cakes , was also developed by Veripan AG .