A Brussels family business celebrates 100 years supplying all sorts of flavour enhancers
In 1925, Jean-François Didden and his two sons distributed their home-made mustard in the Brussels municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean by horse and cart. In the meantime, the fifth generation has now jumped onto the bandwagon of this thriving, state-of-the-art family-run condiment company.
Thanks to its unique texture and flavour, the mustard was an instant hit. It was obvious that this range of flavour enhancers would soon be expanded. Condiments such as gherkins, pickles and pearl onions, which followed in 1930, did not need to be advertised either. In 1958 Pierre, who belonged to the third generation, launched a special mayonnaise for the World's Fair in Brussels and in 2025, it is still prepared according to the original recipe and mixed by hand as his grandmother did, which is what gives it its creaminess. In the 1960s, cold sauces and culinary sauces for reheating then made their appearance. From 1990 onwards, the company showed what it was, and still is, a capable practitioner of the ancient art of preserving. A whole range of exotic salad dressings joined the company's already rich and varied offerings in 2012.
Mind you, things didn't end there. Unperturbed, this Belgian stalwart of the food segment continues to invent and prepare mixed classic and modern flavour combinations that excite the senses. Those who want to put it to the test can choose from over 200 products at hundreds of supermarkets, sandwich stores, snack bars and butchers' shops.