For the past ninety years, Godiva has led the chocolate category through its pioneering innovation and impressive culinary artistry. Godiva’s heritage is rooted in its founding family’s skilled craftsmanship and passion for chocolate, which is upheld today by Godiva’s five Belgian-trained chef chocolatiers. In 1926, Pierre Draps Sr. began making pralines at his confectionery workshop in Brussels. His children, Joseph, François Yvonne and Pierre Jr., all worked for the family business from an early age – Pierre Draps Jr. later described himself as being “born into chocolate”. Today, Godiva has over 600 boutiques and is present in over 100 countries around the world from Europe to Asia, from North America to the Middle East. The chocolatier also operates through franchise and licensing agreements and global travel retail. Godiva’s innovation pipeline is fueled by five expert Belgian-trained chef chocolatiers who are based across the US, Belgium, China and Japan. Although located in different continents, these ardent experts continue to protect the Draps family legacy, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of their art. Every year Godiva’s chef chocolatiers create at least 40 new recipes, 12 seasonal collections and 2-4 limited edition collections in order to keep the Godiva experience fresh and engaging for consumers worldwide. Looking to the future, Godiva’s business strategy will be based on continuous, profitable growth. In mature markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe, the focus will be on increasing organizational effectiveness by maximizing the synergies of the global organization. The growth engine for Godiva’s international business will be a sustained program of new stores, expanding its current footprint in strategic markets and entering into new territories, while enhancing its global supply chain. Godiva will explore opportunities in emerging markets and build on its successful entry into China.