• 1760

    Establishment of the vinegar production company: ‘De Blauwe Hand’

  • 1886

    Establishment of a small canned goods factory by Henri Devos. At the time the range was limited to gherkins and pickles. Henri Devos married Elisabeth Lemmens in 1881.

  • 1903

    The recipe for Imperial pudding was created. Imperial is a small trading company in Antwerp.

  • 1905

    First order from Delhaize, at the time quite an honour, as only English suppliers had access to such big retailers.

  • 1906

    The brand ‘De Blauwe Hand’ was registered in Antwerp.

  • 1910

    De Blauwe Hand’ is awarded an honorary certificate at the world exhibition.

  • 1920

    Extensive expansion of the production plant of canned goods manufacturer, Devos Lemmens. New products are added to the range such as mayonnaise, tomato ketchup and a number of vinegar varieties.

  • 1928

    S.A. Imperial is established. At the time, the company produces pudding, pancake and cake powder.

  • 1936

    Devos Lemmens builds a vinegar plant in order to be able to produce on a larger scale. At the time the range consisted of (Belgian) pickles, capers, mayonnaise, mustard, tomato ketchups, and… rollmops in mayonnaise!

  • 1938

    Celebration of the 35th anniversary of S.A. Imperial: business was running full steam ahead!

  • 1959

    Acquisition of a new site for Devos Lemmens, mainly for the storage of vegetables.

  • 1960

    Celebration of the 20th anniversary of De Blauwe Hand vinegar. Still on supermarket shelves today!

  • 1962

    Imperial introduces large-scale marketing campaigns!

  • 1965

    Devos Lemmens becomes a plc (N.V. Devos Lemmens S.A.). The company's products are sold in over 70 countries.

  • 1966

    Merger of Devos Lemmens with De Blauwe Hand. Devos Lemmens moves from Hoboken to Puurs, still the site of the production plant and offices today.

  • 1968

    Merger of Devos Lemmens with Imperial. From here onwards they are part of the holding, Continental Foods N.V., which generates a total turnover of BEF 550 million.

  • 1969

    Imperial and De Blauwe Hand products are now also produced on the site of Devos Lemmens.

  • 1970

    Continental Foods N.V. acquires the brand Kwatta; part of production is transferred to Belgium.

  • 1972

    Chocolaterie Jacques is acquired.

  • 1982

    Chocolaterie Jacques was hived off after a major reshuffle of the company’s product portfolio.

  • 1985

    On 14 May 1985, Continental Foods N.V. is acquired by the American multinational, Campbell Soup Company

  • 1986

    Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Devos Lemmens.

  • 1993

    In France, Continental Foods France is established, distributing Devos Lemmens, Imperial and V8.

  • 1995

    The name Continental Foods is changed to ‘Campbell Foods Belgium’.

  • 1996

    The production of the ‘Lacroix’ stocks is transferred to Puurs. Lacroix is currently still expanding its production.

  • 1996

    Under the name ‘Campbells', Campbell Foods Belgium is the first company to launch a soup in tetra pack. An innovation for the Belgian market.

  • 1998

    Devos Lemmens launches ‘MayOlive’, the first mayonnaise with olive oil on the market!

  • 2001

    Royco, Liebig bouillon and Oxo are acquired from Unilever.

  • 2003

    Imperial celebrates its 100th anniversary!

  • 2004

    Devos Lemmens launches its ‘light sauces’, an instant success in the cold sauce market!

  • 2007

    Devos Lemmens launches ‘Veg'Up’, a vegetable ketchup.

  • 2008

    Royco launches ‘Puree’Minute’.