Our History
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Our History in Key Dates
1947
It all began in 1947, when Léon Desobry developed his own biscuit recipes in his workshop. Unbeknownst to him, he created biscuits that would be universally appreciated in over 40 countries for more than half a century!
1981
The Desobry biscuit company was sold to the American multinational Pillsbury.
1989
The American group Pillsbury, owner of Desobry, was acquired by the British giant Grand Metropolitan, which also owns Suzy, Häagen-Dazs, J&B, and Burger King. Desobry then came under British control.
1997
Desobry was resold to Albert Frère's Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille (CNP). However, as food was not part of CNP's core business, the group subsequently decided to resell its brands, including Desobry.
2000
Desobry became a Belgian biscuit company again, a status it retains to this day. Since then, its growth strategy has been based on two pillars: innovation and export. Desobry invested 23 million euros in automation and digital technology between 2008 and 2013.
2018
Facing growth and the limitations of its historic site, Desobry launched a project to reorganize its infrastructure in 2018. The company gradually transferred its packaging and storage activities to the Tournai Ouest (Orcq) industrial zone, to a new 5-hectare site. This move, effective from 2019, allowed for the modernization of facilities, optimization of logistics, and preparation for the future consolidation of all activities, while maintaining 100% Belgian production.
2026
In 2026, Desobry undertook a complete redesign of its website to better reflect its identity, expertise, and dynamism. The new site aims to offer a more modern, intuitive, and inspiring experience, while enhancing the visibility of products, the brand's history, and online sales, both in Belgium and internationally. This move, effective from 2019, allowed for the modernization of facilities, optimization of logistics, and preparation for the future consolidation of all activities, while maintaining 100% Belgian production.
Desobry in Figures
The Belgian Biscuit, a Product of Excellence
The Kingdom of Belgium boasts an impressive gastronomic history: beer, chocolate, speculoos, waffles (whether from Liège or Brussels), waterzooi, fries, etc.
How can such a small country produce so many different flavors?
The answer to this question is simple: Belgians are, in addition to being creative, lovers of good things, and lovers are passionate beings.
The Desobry biscuit company is proud to belong to this family of enthusiasts and to contribute to this Belgian culinary art.
The History of Belgian Chocolate
Shortly after the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, another Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortes, arrived in Mexico and received cocoa beans from the local populations: the Aztecs.
The navigator returned to Europe with his holds full of cocoa beans. Once arrived, the cocoa beverage was quickly appreciated by the Spanish aristocracy and clergy, and remained a well-kept secret by the Spanish upper echelons.
In the early 17th century, an Italian merchant, Francesco Carletti, revealed the Spanish secret after tasting a similar beverage in South America. The secret then quickly spread throughout Europe.
At that time, the cities of Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp were under Spanish rule and governed by Charles V. Cocoa beans transited through Belgian ports to reach the rest of Europe, and Belgian artisans quickly gained access to this new resource.
Using their creativity and talent, they created their own chocolate recipes.
Thus, Belgian chocolate was born.
It is within this gourmet heritage and artisanal expertise that Desobry is now positioned, perpetuating the Belgian passion for authentic flavors and exceptional sweets.
