Corné Port-Royal Chocolatier

Corné Port-Royal is a Belgian chocolate brand founded in Brussels in 1932 by the young pâtissier Maurice Corné, who set up shop on Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères (Warmoesberg). The business met with immediate success: within a short time Corné employed around thirty people, and his loyal customers included celebrities of the day such as Maurice Chevalier, who reportedly never passed through Brussels without stocking up at "Mr Corné's place." The chocolatier was originally known simply as "Corné," but when his brothers and sisters also began making pralines, he added a regal touch to distinguish himself, giving rise to the name Corné Port-Royal. In 1935 Maurice Corné created the 'Manon Sucre,' a praline combining the smoothness of cream, the crispness of nougatine and the tang of walnuts, hand-enrobed with confectioner's sugar using a fork. The Manon Sucre is described by the company as part of Belgium's cultural heritage and is still made by hand today. The brand produces more than 80 varieties of chocolate, including pralinés, cream chocolates, ganaches, giandujas and massepains, using high-quality raw materials and single-origin cocoa. Ownership has changed several times. According to French Wikipedia, the Brussels activities became Corné Port-Royal and were acquired in 1977 by the chocolatier Mondose when the company decided to expand to Istanbul and sell its Brussels operations; in 1990 the brand was bought by Chocolats Vanparys, a praline specialist. Corné Port-Royal is today described as a Belgian chocolate brand manufactured by Vanparys and distributed under franchise. The company operates around 35 boutiques worldwide, mainly in Belgium and France, and sells online with fast delivery across Europe. With roughly 90 years of experience, some fifty artisans continue to make pralines according to recipes that have remained largely unchanged.

Corné Port-Royal traces its origins to 1932, when the young pâtissier Maurice Corné decided to go into business as a chocolatier, setting up shop in Brussels' Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères (Warmoesberg). The venture was an immediate success. His business took off and very soon he had a 30-strong team working for him, counting among his loyal customers some of the great celebrities of the day; Maurice Chevalier, in particular, never missed an opportunity to indulge at "Mr Corné's place" when passing through Brussels. The chocolaterie was first known simply as "Corné," after its owner. However, in the wake of his dazzling success, the rest of his family had started to get ideas: seeing his success, his brothers and sisters also took up making pralines. To distinguish himself from them, Maurice Corné decided to add a regal touch to his name, and thus Corné Port-Royal was born. In 1935, Maurice Corné created the 'Manon Sucre,' a praline combining the smoothness of cream with crisp nougatine and the tang of fresh walnuts, always artisan-made and hand-enrobed with confectioner's sugar. The company describes the Manon Sucre as a permanent fixture in Belgium's cultural heritage. According to French Wikipedia, the Brussels chocolaterie opened by Maurice Corné was called Corné Côte de France. In 1966 the brand acquired the company Corné Barrière, founded in 1946 by Joseph Corné, Maurice's brother. In 1977 the company decided to establish itself in Istanbul and to sell its Brussels activities. Those activities, which had become Corné Port-Royal, were bought by the chocolaterie Mondose, another figure in Belgian chocolate. In 1990 the brand was acquired by Chocolats Vanparys, specialists in pralines. French Wikipedia describes Corné Port Royal as a Belgian chocolate brand manufactured by the company Vanparys and distributed in franchise under the brand name, with the current company operating 35 boutiques worldwide, mainly in Belgium and France. Today, with 90 years of experience behind it, Corné Port-Royal continues its tradition of authentic recipes and gourmet artisan expertise. Some fifty artisans work daily to prepare chocolates whose recipes have remained unchanged for over a century, using only the best single-origin cocoa and the finest raw materials. The brand produces more than 80 varieties of chocolate, including pralinés, cream chocolates, ganaches, giandujas and massepains, and sells through its boutiques and online store with fast delivery across Europe.

• 1990

  The brand is acquired by Chocolats Vanparys.

• 1977

  The company expands to Istanbul and sells its Brussels activities, which are acquired by Mondose.

• 1966

  Corné Port-Royal acquires Corné Barrière.

• 1946

  Joseph Corné, brother of Maurice, founds Corné Barrière.

• 1935

  Maurice Corné creates the 'Manon Sucre' praline.

• 1932

  Maurice Corné opens a chocolaterie in Brussels' Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères.

Traditional Belgian artisan chocolatier with nearly a century of heritage, offering hand-made pralines and premium gift assortments.

• Manon Sucre

  A hand-made praline combining cream, crisp nougatine and walnuts, created in 1935.

• Pralinés

  Belgian pralines in numerous varieties.

• Cream chocolates

  Chocolates with cream fillings.

• Ganaches

  Chocolate ganache confections.

• Giandujas

  Chocolate and hazelnut confections.

• Massepains

  Almond paste confections.

1. 1Geschiedenis Belgisch Chocolatier Corné Port-Royalcorneportroyal.com
2. 2History of Belgian Chocolatier Corné Port-Royalcorneportroyal.com
3. 3Geschichte belgischen Chocolatier Corné Port-Royalcorneportroyal.com
4. 4Corné Port-Royal Chocolatierwikidata.org
5. 5Chocolat Corné Port Royalfr.wikipedia.org