In the beginning...
The company was founded in Salisbury in 1987,
when Robert Verdonk opened a small chocolate shop.
After starting with a limited range of products,
he soon realized that he needed more variety if
the business was to grow and so he converted the
offices above the shop into a base from which
he could manage the importing of quality chocolates
from Belgium. His intention, being fluent in Flemish,
was to drive to Belgium on a weekly basis in his
van to pick up fresh chocolates for his own shop.
He quickly realized that when collecting chocolates
for himself he could be doing it for others and
started to canvas other chocolate shops in the
UK, and so began House of Sarunds as an importer.
The business expanded, and as its reputation
grew, more and more companies asked Robert to
supply them with chocolates. Soon, through word
of mouth and not a small amount of entrepreneurial
skill, Robert was supplying a wider variety of
Belgian chocolates at lower prices to a wider
audience, than had ever before been available
to retailers. As he out grew the shop it was sold
and Robert created the importing and distribution
company called House of Sarunds (HOS).
After a few years Robert began to have problems
with logistics and competitor jealousy where pressure
was being put on manufacturers to not supply him.
By chance he heard about a Belgian confectionary
buying group called Veranco, which had been in
existence since 1955. The members of this co-operative
distribute confectionary in every town in Belgium
and historically concentrated on mid / low price
products but the bakery shops in Belgium wanted
regular small deliveries of quality Belgian chocolates
for their specialist 'weigh out' counters. The
Veranco members at the time could not compete
on price as their combined turnover in quality
chocolates and pralines was not large enough to
negotiate a better price.
Robert approached the group as a way of finding
a greater range of products to distribute, to
consolidate his logistics and to hopefully find
Belgian chocolates at lower prices. It was by
coincidence that Veranco needed Robert's turnover
as much as he needed them and he was invited to
join the group. Today there are 37 wholesalers
in Veranco; 36 in Belgium and the HOS, the only
member outside of Belgium.
It came to pass...
In 1997, after a 22 year career in international
banking and broking, Peter Martin, the current
Managing Director, decided to spend less time
away from his family and look for a new challenge
where he and his wife, Jackie, could work together.
They ended up buying a Belgian chocolate shop
in Salisbury, originally belonging to Robert Verdonk.
Due to Peter's financial acumen and Jackie's artistic
flair the shop became successful and provided
a steep learning curve in confectionary retailing.
It's fair to say the the business trading and
financial side of the shop were second nature
to Peter but he didn't have the patience for dealing
directly with the public, therefore he began looking
to expand his new found knowledge elsewhere.
HOS was the main supplier to the shop but in
1999 Robert Verdonk became ill and the service
levels had suffered as a result. Peter visited
Robert on numerous occasions to make complaints,
but ended up becoming friends with Robert and
offered his help. In October 1999 Peter joined
HOS as Managing Director and in December 1999
purchased the majority share holding from Robert
who retired and emigrated to South Africa.
After a year of learning about HOS, Peter fully
understood what was required to develop the company
and moved it to a new premises in January 2001.
This coincided with Peter persuading Jackie
to sell the shop in Salisbury and work together
as joint directors for HOS, adding Jackie's retail
and artistic knowledge.
Since then HOS has greatly expanded and works
tirelessly to provide the products and service
that you, our valued customer, require.
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