About Stam

 

Welcome to Chocolaterie Stam, a modern chocolaterie steeped in old-world, Dutch traditions. Since 1913, our family has been proudly handcrafting exceptional white, milk and dark chocolate bonbons and other indulgent confections for Europe and the U.S.

In each of our stores, a long family tradition is very much alive and well. Beginning with the same recipe we perfected more than a century ago, we make each of our fanciful creations in a secret process that can take up to two days. From our hand-painted chocolates, to our buttery caramels, to our truffles filled with fresh cream, fruits and nuts, our cases are piled high with flavors, textures and shapes that demonstrate Stam’s rich history and unparalleled attention to detail. It takes great skill, commitment and passion to produce our high-quality chocolates, and our team of third-generation chocolatiers is dedicated to maintaining Stam’s long-held reputation for exceptional quality.

Stam’s roots trace back to 1816, when Jacobus Stam (1786-1855), an early ancestor of the Stam family, ran a bakery in a small town called Assendelft, located just north of Amsterdam, Holland. Over time, Stam’s bakery developed a reputation for quality pastries and chocolates. After receiving numerous requests from devout customers urging him to specialize exclusively in chocolates, Jacobus Stam pursued a newfound passion, launching Chocolaterie Stam in 1913. In 1930, three of Jacobus’ sons, Frits, Wim and Jaap, and his only daughter, Fredi, each decided to join their father in business, with Frits, Wim and Jaap each developing their own branch of Chocolaterie Stam. Frits’s business grew to be very successful, and he was later joined by his second eldest son, Ad, in 1978. The youngest of Frits’ seven sons, Ton, felt that America would appreciate his father’s chocolate as much as Netherlanders did, and decided to bring fine chocolate to the U.S.

The tradition of making fine Dutch chocolate continues in America at Chocolaterie Stam’s corporate store, where our production facility is located. Here, Ton’s nephew (Ad’s youngest child), Erik, shares his love, passion and skill for making exquisite bonbons and fine confections. In 2006, Chocolate Stam USA embarked on its initial expansion effort in the United States, bringing Chocolaterie Stam to Ames, Iowa, followed by a store in Rochester, MN, in 2008. Our location in Papillion, Nebraska, opened in 2009 and more stores followed. In each of our stores, Chocolaterie Stam now offers exquisite bonbons and other fine confections, our own rich coffee blend, and more than 50 flavors of homemade Italian gelato and sorbetto.

Today, with so much rich history behind every detail, a trip to Chocolaterie Stam is an experience like no other. It’s not just the taste of our treats you’ll love – it’s also the intoxicating scent of fresh truffles, the inviting warmth of our cozy shops and the exciting experience of selecting your own favorite sweets to take home and explore – just as people have for more than 100 years.

Sure, you’ve tasted chocolate before – but nothing better than this.