Making waves in cocoa since 1911
Discover over a century of cocoa passion
deZaan was established with a clear vision: to craft consistently high-quality cocoa ingredients that create moments of joy.
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Our focus on advancing the quality, sensory characteristics, and sustainability of cocoa ingredients has made deZaan the first port of call for customers large and small around the globe. Many of these companies produce household name brand products and they rely on deZaan cocoa ingredients to set them apart from their competition.
We have a proud history of establishing firsts in cocoa ingredients and we push the boundaries of cocoa innovation to provide new ways for cocoa to be used and enjoyed.
April 1911 - deZaan is born
The Beginning
deZaan was founded in 1911 with the dream to manufacture and market chocolate, confectionery and cocoa related products.
The N.V. Chocoladefabriek ‘deZaan’ chocolate factory was founded at the cost of 22,000 Dutch guilders, and by November 1911 was producing chocolate bars and rum beans.
1916
Focusing on Cocoa
With the onset of World War I, the young deZaan business was placed under extreme economic pressure, resulting in its purchase in 1916 by Jan Huysman, the owner of a number of nearby windmills.
Huysman set about changing the focus of the deZaan business away from chocolate to the manufacture and production of one of it's key ingredients, cocoa butter, marketed under the name ‘Astra’.
1920s - 1930s
European Growth
Through investment in the 1920’s the renamed N.V. Cacaofabriek deZaan business grew rapidly, with the expansion of the factory facilities to increase capacity. By the late 1920’s annual processing had increased to over 7,000 metric tons of cocoa beans.
Following the business' successful survival of the Great Depression, a new factory was built in 1931 and by 1933 deZaan cocoa butter was sold across Europe.
1940 - 1980
Global Expansion
Following World War II, deZaan diversified into new markets and new products. By the 1960’s the deZaan cocoa factory had become the world’s largest processor of cocoa beans and cocoa butter.
From the 1970’s onwards deZaan focused exclusively on supplying food and beverage manufacturers with industry leading quality cocoa products. In 2015 deZaan was acquired by ofi (Olam Food Ingredients), and continues to lead the industry in cocoa innovation, upholding a standard that has been based on more than 110 years of excellence.