Verkade chocolate

Verkade is one of the most iconic Dutch confectionery brands, established in 1886 by Ericus Gerhardus Verkade in Zaandam. Originally starting as a bread and rusk bakery, it expanded into chocolate and biscuits, becoming a household name in the Netherlands. The company's historic factory in Zaandam remains a symbol of Dutch industrial heritage and is where much of the brand's production continues today.

Over the years, the brand has transitioned from a family-owned business to part of larger international groups. In 1990, Verkade was acquired by the British company United Biscuits. Following subsequent corporate acquisitions and restructuring within the global snack industry, the brand was eventually acquired by Pladis, a global snacking company established in 2016. Pladis is a subsidiary of the Turkish industrial conglomerate Yıldız Holding, which currently oversees the brand's global operations and growth.