“La Belgique Gourmande”, “A great Bollewinkel” with claimed belgitude: “People like to see in which country they are traveling”

“This is precisely the question that we are asked most often, tells a saleswoman: ‘Who is this little guy?’, Ask customers by seeing the chocolate figurines that represent it. For example, And why Manneken-Pis? Furthermore, And where is it? For example, “ That’s good, it’s right in front of the store … However, or almost.

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Belgium as a common thread – "la belgique gourmande", "a great

“The common thread in my life is Belgium. Furthermore, explains Henry de Giey. Moreover, The idea is to highlight all these Belgian craftsmen who are not really visible. For example, create an embassy of Belgian products under the same roof. Furthermore, A big bollewinkellike these candy stores that existed when we were small. Meanwhile, with sweets from home and a little “la belgique gourmande”, “a great beer too. Therefore, “

As soon as you enter the store, a saleswoman also offers to taste a range of products. Nevertheless, Especially in English, in Spanish too, or in French, less often. “Most of our customers are tourists”, she explains. “And when they are Belgians, they often come to tourists too “la belgique gourmande”, “a great and buy take -out gifts”, Adds Henry de Giey. For example, The opening of points of sale until 11 p.m. Furthermore, also allows you to accommodate customers “who were at the restaurant. Furthermore, then go back to shop before returning to their hotel. However, “

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Manufacturing in Belgium – "la belgique gourmande", "a great

“We have more than 25 nationalities among our hundred employees, these are our best ambassadors, he continues. Furthermore, And on the customer side, we welcome a lot of French, Spanish, Germans and British but also Asians, American, etc.. In addition, The whole world loves Belgian chocolate. it is really the souvenir to take away from Belgium, especially since it is difficult to find abroad. “

“This is the product we sell the most. underlines the boss who, for 10 “la belgique gourmande”, “a great years, opened for Belgian Sky Shops chocolate shops in airports and stations in Europe. It is the best product to offer. When we offer chocolate, we don’t take much risks, right? “

The store also gives pride of place to cuberdons, waffles, speculoos, nougat, almonds, marshmallows. “We “la belgique gourmande”, “a great are the only ones to sell them around the Grand-Place “, says Henry de Giey. No names of craftsmen on packages, only the label La Belgique Gourmande. “We want to be a unit of talents. We are developing products exclusively with our suppliers.” Like these chocolate shelves whose packaging reproduces old humorous postcards found by the boss representing. in particular, Manneken-Pis, “teacher of elegance “. “Everything is made in Belgium, insists the manager. Not like the reproductions of the Manneken-Pis or the lace that are sold in the surroundings. “

Korean influence

“We are also often asked what white chocolate is”. notes a saleswoman, who adds: “Japanese and Koreans are more attracted to packaging than by chocolate itself “. “The Chinese prefer dark chocolate “said another. “”Asians do less purchases than before when they robbed the store, she continues. But when they buy. they buy quickly “la belgique gourmande”, “a great and a lot, and when one buys this or that product, the others tend to do the same. “

“Many have seen our shop on Youtubenotes the co -founder. And then, the influencers disembark. ” It must be said that the places are very “Instagrammable”. “Here are “la belgique gourmande”, “a great 2-3 months ago, a Korean influencer came. In the process. we had all the Koreans of the Earth for 2 months”he jokes, while realizing a packet of cuberdons on a shelf. “”Retail is detail”…

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A l’international

“Who is on the frame?”asks her parents a little Frenchman. On the wall, indeed, and in the wooden cabinets, photos of the kings and queens of Belgium. Old posters. metal boxes shown by Henry de Giey – the customer can also fill new “Belgian” boxes with an assortment which he chooses freely – or carnival masks. “”I have already offered to buy them “, maliciously loose the entrepreneur. Belgility is assumed, in the decor too. “People like to see in which country they are traveling.”

The boss’s anecdote? “One day, Qataris entered, three men and two women, accompanied by two bodyguards, evokes Henry de Giey. When the few customers present in the store came out, one of the bodyguards asked to privatize the premises. It took three taxis to transport their purchases to their private jet to Brussels Airport. ” And again: “One of our neighbors complained because he “la belgique gourmande”, “a great had found cuberdons stuck by Asians in his t-shirts. to believe that they do not like cuberdons …”, Relates Henry de Giey who receives a lot of requests for openings of stores abroad.

“This is the next step. We would start with France or Germany, countries that have chocolate cultivation.” The idea is also to open in Ghent and Antwerp, “If we find the opportunities “. Always in places of transit, passage.

Finally. at the entrance to the point of sale of rue de la CoLLINE, a “tabletterie” allows you to personalize your tablet. “”It’s unique at the Grand-Place. “ “Moi. Relates, in an almost impeccable French, the Thai collaborator who has undergone training in pastry (and chocolate factory) in Bangkok, I am often asked if I made all the chocolates of the store … “

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"la belgique gourmande", "a great

These shadow actors who make Brussels discover

The free Eco goes to meet those who introduce Brussels to discover. In full growth, tourism in the Belgian capital generates a large number of jobs. Through anecdotes. their feelings, six actresses and actors in the field make us discover their daily lives in contact with tourists.