Godiva Chocolatier Inc.

We've come a long way since 1926. But we still hold fast to our Belgian roots.

It's not surprising that Godiva Chocolatier originated in Belgium. For generations, Belgium has upheld a tradition of perfectionism, from Rubens paintings and gothic architecture to products made of intricate lace and glittering crystal to fabulous cuisine.

In keeping with Belgian tradition, our founder Joseph Draps was a master chocolatier who developed a unique formula for rich chocolate with unparalleled smoothness and shell-molded designs. In 1926, Draps opened his first Godiva Chocolatier shop on a cobblestone street on Grand Place, Brussels' central square. His confections were met with instant acclaim, as were his standards for Godiva, which remain in place today: quality ingredients, elegant styling, innovative selection, and beautiful packaging.

Adhering to our heritage is serious business at Godiva. From our iconic European-styleGold Ballotins to our handcrafted seasonal packaging, Godiva's reputation for excellence can be traced to our beginnings in Belgium. In fact, everything about Godiva today embodies the same careful attention to detail that was paid by our founder more than eight decades ago. And for all that time, our Godiva chefs have been guarding (and using!) Draps' original recipes.