Barbara Luijckx – 35 Years of Love for Chocolate

2026 is a special and deeply emotional year for Barbara Luijckx. Celebrating our 35th anniversary fills us with joy and pride in the journey we have taken, but above all it is a moment to thank everyone who has shaped our history – our employees, customers and business partners. Your presence, trust and collaboration have transformed dreams rooted in love of chocolate into a brand now recognised in over 50 countries. Thanks to you, these years have been marked by intense work and challenges, but also by success and countless wonderful memories.

These 35 years tell a shared story of passion, family values and an unwavering pursuit of excellence, of a dream of two young, ambitious people that has grown into a thriving reality.

Courage and Passion from the Very Beginning

Thirty-five years ago, Barbara and Ryszard Borowicz, young enthusiasts in search of innovative ideas, created the story of the Barbara company. In a small production facility in Inowrocław, they launched the manufacturing of chocolate decorations – the first of their kind on the Polish market. Soon, the original designs, the company’s first retail packaging and a modest machinery setup were developed. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of confectionery technologists in Poland and abroad, the founders were quickly able to attract customer interest.
The market hungry for innovation enthusiastically embraced chocolate decorations that combined striking aesthetics with excellent flavour. Within a short period, the product portfolio was expanded to include chocolate figurines and many other items. Barbara’s products were showcased at the Polagra trade fair and numerous regional exhibitions, earning growing recognition within the industry. This was the time of pioneers – filled with passion, courage, learning and the joy of creating something entirely new. Today, we look back on these years with great fondness.

From Manufacturing to International Markets

The next major stage of development came between 1999 and 2003, when the Polish company Barbara joined forces with the Dutch company Luijckx. This partnership gave rise to the Barbara Luijckx brand, which entered the professional market with a comprehensive range of decorations for confectioners and the foodservice sector. Collaboration with Dreidoppel, a German company still supported by Barbara Luijckx, which remains their exclusive distributor in Poland, further strengthened the company’s position as a recognised industry expert. This period also saw the installation of the first automated production line for Ażurki® (Filigranes®) in Eastern Europe, alongside numerous trade fair successes and prestigious events, including the sponsorship of the World Junior Pastry Championship. The years 2003–2007 marked a time of particularly dynamic growth. As the exclusive distributor of the Callebaut brand in Poland, Barbara Luijckx organised numerous professional chocolate training courses, actively supporting the development of chocolate craftsmanship nationwide. In 2006, the company supported the Polish team at the World Pastry Team Championship in Phoenix, USA. Additionally, the opening of a modern manufacturing facility in 2007 ushered in a new chapter in the company’s history.

Family Strength and Proprietary Brands

In the years that followed, Barbara Luijckx focused on strengthening its family foundations while developing proprietary brands and innovative solutions. The Academy of Skills “Inspiration” was established as a centre of confectionery expertise and professional training, alongside the launch of the Barima Artisanal brand, offering high-quality chocolate and specialised ingredients dedicated to professionals in the confectionery and food sectors. In 2012, the company invested in a state-of-the-art chocolate decoration production line and implemented advanced printing technologies, enabling the creation of multi-coloured designs. A significant milestone followed in 2014, when Barbara and Ryszard Borowicz became the sole owners of the company, officially transforming it into a family-owned enterprise. At the same time, the second generation – Paulina Borowicz-Hardeman, Katarzyna Borowicz-Gabarska and Mathieu Hardeman – joined the management team, bringing fresh energy and contributing to the brand’s dynamic development. This is when the Barbara Decor brand was created. Between 2017 and 2018, a strategic decision was taken to expand both production and warehouse facilities. In 2018, a modern Academy space was opened, designed to host professional training sessions led by industry experts from Poland and abroad.

New Generation – New Horizons

The years 2022–2025 marked a period of intensive growth and investment. In 2022, another important milestone was reached with the launch of the Barbara Luijckx for Industry brand, presenting a comprehensive range of decorations and chocolate accessories tailored to industrial and semi-industrial applications. As a result of these investments, the products found widespread use among manufacturers of high-volume baked goods, ice cream, breakfast cereals and other food categories. This year, despite many successes, was also a time of great loss—we said goodbye to Barbara Borowicz, co-founder of the company. Her passion, determination and vision — “to transform simple forms into works of art” — remain firmly embedded in the identity of Barbara Luijckx Her creative spirit and love for chocolate remain an enduring source of inspiration.
The years 2023 and 2024 brought intensive technological investment and further modernisation of production processes. During this time, the company proudly supported the achievements of Polish confectioners, including world champions in cake decorating, as well as the Polish National Culinary Team, which won two silver medals at the Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart. Meanwhile, the Academy of Skills “Inspiration” continued its development, and we became a patron of the AS School Academy in Inowrocław, supporting the education and professional development of future confectioners. In 2025, the company completed the construction of a new production and office facility and launched a high-efficiency production of ROYAL CRISPY FLAKES. Participation in prestigious international trade fairs – including SIAL, SIGEP, Anuga, FHA Singapore, IBA and Expo Sweet – further strengthened the brand’s position on global markets.

Family Values and Tradition

There are people behind every step of this journey. The Barbara Luijckx team is the true heart of the company – individuals who bring dedication, expertise and professionalism to their work every day. As a family-owned business, we nurture the values that have guided us from the very beginning: quality, responsibility, creativity and respect for the tradition of chocolate craftsmanship. We believe that these values create an atmosphere of cooperation and trust, both within our team and in our relationships with customers and partners. This approach enables us to build an environment that encourages growth and innovation, while at the same time preserving what matters most to us – the continuity and family character of our organisation.

Together, We Create More

On the occasion of our anniversary, we would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to building a company and brands now recognised for their quality, stability and creativity. Through our shared efforts, we have been able to introduce new technologies, develop innovative product ranges and reach customers around the world. We wish our employees, partners and clients continued inspiration, professional fulfilment and many more shared successes. As we celebrate this milestone together, we look to the future with confidence, believing that the years ahead will bring new ideas, investments and projects that will further expand both our portfolio and our production capabilities. We remain faithful to the passion that has accompanied us since 1991 – our love for chocolate, which has become the foundation of our work and the source of our strength.

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