Kwatta
A long time ago It was a long way from "De Waterkant" in Paramaribo to the Kwatta plantation. A long way; the Gravenstraat into the Kwattaweg and then the many kilometers long "Road to (the plantation) Kwatta". It is no longer possible to trace where the plantation was exactly. Now it is the name of a resort in district Wanica.
Egbert van Emden
In September 1818, Elias van Emden, who from that time let himself be called Egbert van Emden, arrived in Suriname from the Netherlands at the age of 19. Marries Gracia de La Parra in 1826, of Jewish Portuguese descent. A year later, Gracia dies, and in 1829, Egbert marries Abigael de La Parra, a sister of his first wife, to keep the plantation in the family. The family has sixteen children. It is Joost van Emden, the eldest son of Egbert, who takes over the duties of dad and later becomes the creator of the Kwattasoldaat. He was also director of the sugar plantation "De Drie Gebroeders" and captain of the sugar plantations "Dordrecht, "Meerzorg" and "Wederzorg" and landowner and director of the Cocoa plantations "Kwatta" and "De Maasstroom.
Chocolate Factory "Kwatta"
Full of plans Joost van Emden moves to the Netherlands and, after working with the chocolate factory De Bondt for a year, appoints himself as director-owner of the one and only N.V. Steam Cocoa and Chocolate Factory "Kwatta" in Breda, called after his cocoa plantation Kwatta near Paramaribo. And of course they worked with the cocoa beans from Kwatta, Suriname. In addition, for his spare time, Joost has a nice side job as a member of the committee charged with drafting a regulation regulating medical care in Suriname. He died in Breda on April 12, 1889, aged 58. Joost van Emden made his last trip to Suriname too early and was buried in Paramaribo.
"All eyes are on Kwatta"
In the last years of the nineteenth century, the cocoa and chocolate industry (after peace with England was concluded) became a major industry in the Netherlands, but also in Suriname. All major cities have embraced this industry and Breda has Kwatta. The advertising text from 1890 "All eyes are on Kwatta" is still not forgotten after more than a hundred years, although the cocoa and chocolate factory Kwatta has not existed for a long time.
Still eating Kwatta bars?!?
In Gelderland and Noord-Brabant and also at the top of Limburg, the (company name) Kwatta, especially by the elderly, is still used when chocolate is meant. "Motte ye un stukke kwatta?" is still not lost. A 1992 market survey showed that 5 percent of respondents knew to tell with certainty that they were still eating Kwatta bars. Even though they have not been for sale for years.
Manoeuvre reep
When a crisis on the cocoa market broke out in 1907 and raw material prices were barely affordable, many companies did not survive. Kwatta survives. Thanks to the packaged bar with the Kwattasoldaatje. The Kwatta bar was very popular with the military. With five cut soldiers from the wrappers you got a free candy bar or a tin soldier. With this, Kwatta provided the very first chocolate saving campaign in the Netherlands. The bar did well in the army and was for sale in every barracks. Not only in soldiers' canteens, but the officer mess itself could not escape that. Kwatta was the army's main supplier with the stuffed cake and the canoes. The Kwatta bar was therefore also called a maneuver bar. The intensive relationship with the army will affect the Kwatta logo until the end of the company in 1976.
Partnerships
In the 60s and 70s of the twentieth century a lot changed on the cocoa and chocolate market. The countries that previously produced cocoa beans also started to focus on the manufacture of cocoa and chocolate products. Suriname, too, was looking for profit. In order to strengthen its position, Kwatta then seeks partnerships with manufacturers such as Rademakers and Van Dungen, but is itself incorporated by Belgian chocolate giant Eurochoc. The Kwatta factory building in Breda falls under the breaker in 1979.
Belgium
A boost for the sad Kwatta supporters among you. The name Kwatta has not completely disappeared, because in 1972 the brand, which had been on the Belgian market since 1913, was revived with the relaunch of Kwatta chocolate spread, sprinkles and cocoa powder.
Instagram and Wikipedia
Check pictures and short movies about Kwatta on Instagram and Kwatta on Wikipedia
About Me
Since July 2018 I started this blog for information about Suriname. Some contributions are from guests of my resort, Kekemba Resort Paramaribo. For the moment the blog is only in english.
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