Chocolaterie Stam Celebrates 100 Years

March 14, 2013 (Des Moines, Iowa) – In 1913, the Stam family opened Chocolaterie Stam in Holland. Over 80 years later, in 1997, founder Jacobus Stam’s grandson, Ton Stam, brought the same traditional recipes for fine European chocolates to the United States when he opened the first Chocolaterie Stam store in Des Moines.  And today, the same family is operating the same company on both sides of the pond.

To celebrate its centennial, Chocolaterie Stam is hosting the inaugural Chocolate River Cruise, April 17-29, which will tour dozens of boutique chocolate shops and chocolate makers throughout Europe giving local foodies an opportunity to better understand the uniqueness and heritage of fine European chocolate.

Chocolaterie Stam was introduced following the success of the Stam family bakery in Holland after gaining a reputation for quality pastries and chocolates. All of the chocolate bonbons distributed in the US are prepared by Dutch Master Chocolatier, Erik Stam, at the company’s facility on Bell Avenue in Des Moines. The rich chocolate originates from Belgium and is the original family recipe created by its founder.

In 2006, Chocolaterie Stam embarked on its initial franchising efforts with the opening of a store in Ames, Iowa. Today, Chocolaterie Stam operates stores in Des Moines (Ingersoll Avenue and Valley West Mall) and Middleton, Wisconsin with franchises in six other states, totaling nine stores in the US.  

The company also hosts the annual Hot Chocolate Run every fall in Des Moines and all net proceeds go to the John Stoddard Cancer Center.

Locally, customers can find Chocolaterie Stam’s chocolate in desserts on Bistro Montage’s dessert menu and their gelato (made with Picket Fence Creamery ingredients) at Gateway Market and at Stam stores in Des Moines. Dahl’s Foods recently started to carry Stam chocolate lollipops in the shape of their new owl character Chadwick.

In late 2012, Chocolaterie Stam launched online ordering through a revamped website. For more information, or to order online, visit stamchocolate.com.

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Chocolaterie Stam originated in Holland in 1913 and still uses the same chocolate recipe in all of their locations (Des Moines, IA; Ames, IA; West Des Moines, IA; Dubuque, IA; Rochester, MN; Hannibal, MO; Papillion, NE; Westerville, OH; Middleton, WI). The Stam family has been owners and operators of the family business for three generations. For more information visit stamchocolate.com.