OUR HISTORY
Dive into our rich history and discover how Roodthooft has been winning hearts and taste buds for 100 years!
1925-1939
THE BIRTH OF CARAMELLA MOKATINE
In the vibrant city of Antwerp, known for its biscuits and chocolate, Louis Roodthooft and his wife Joanna Stoops founded their own confectionery in 1925. What started as a wholesale business under the name Bonbons Prima soon grew into a full-scale production company with a passion for quality and flavor.
During a trip to Italy, Louis discovered an innovative candy wrapper: the sacchetti bag. Inspired, he worked with his team to create a unique coffee caramel. The result? Caramella Mokatine: wrapped in the now-iconic design featuring the Arab figure. To this day, it remains a true Belgian candy icon.
The Mokatine, along with other Roodthooft sweets, quickly became a success. The factory moved to Lange Leemstraat and underwent major expansion. Confiserie Roodthooft earned several prestigious awards, including a gold medal at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
1940-1970
CANDY DURING WORLD WAR II
During World War II, candy suddenly became a luxury, and production partially came to a halt. Louis and Joanna fled to France, while family members did their best to keep operations going. Due to shortages of raw materials, the company experimented with alternatives, such as hazelnut-based chocolate spreads. Roodthooft also produced food parcels for the Red Cross. In 1941, Louis and Joanna returned.
After the war, the business flourished once again, introducing new products, expanding international distribution to the United States and the Middle East, and welcoming the next generation of the Stoops family into the company.
1970-2015
EXPORT & INNOVATION
The establishment of Confiserie Roodthooft NV in 1970 marked the beginning of a new era. Production was gradually modernized: machines replaced manual labor, packaging lines became more efficient, and the product range was adapted to meet an ever-changing market.
In 2003, Patrick Stoops — the third generation — took over as managing director. Under his leadership, the company continued to balance innovation with tradition, introducing premium export lines such as Our Original Belgian Toffees. These toffees, based on authentic recipes from the 1920s and 1930s, were warmly received in markets like Japan and China, where demand for high-quality Belgian products was rapidly growing.
2015-2025
MOVING TO ASTRA SWEETS
Time doesn’t stand still. In 2017, the factory moved from Antwerp to a modern production facility in Turnhout. The former factory site in Antwerp was repurposed into new residential and commercial spaces. And in 2022, a new chapter began: Roodthooft Candy became part of Astra Sweets, another renowned Belgian confectionery brand with roots in Antwerp.
The world may change, but our craftsmanship endures. Roodthooft continues its tradition with a fresh perspective: renewed packaging, surprising new flavors, and a broader product range.
2025-PRESENT
ROODTHOOFT CANDY
We remain true to our heritage and carry it forward with pride. But as society has evolved over the years, we felt the need to rebrand this beautiful legacy. That’s why we are reimagining our brand with a fresh perspective and launching a new line of hard toffees under the name Roodthooft Candy. At the heart of this line remains the iconic Caramella Mokatine, now with a contemporary name: Roodthooft Candy – Mocha Caramel. Alongside this beloved classic, we’re introducing a second flavor: Coffee, with a richer, more authentic coffee taste.
In the years ahead, we will continue expanding the range with new indulgent flavors — no longer limited to coffee, but always crafted with respect for our roots. Every pack will retain a familiar element: the desert landscape with palm trees, a nod to the historic coffee city of Mocha and a symbol of the origins of our rich toffee tradition.