Lommel, Belgium – 31 October 2025 – The American lifestyle candy brand Kizandy® has officially launched its first European production line in Lommel, Belgium — a significant milestone that marks the brand’s full-scale entry into the European market. Renowned for its unique design, premium quality, and irresistible flavours, Kizandy® Sours & Mints are now produced in Europe, ensuring faster delivery, sustainable sourcing, and superior freshness for its growing customer base. The story began two years ago, when Reinier van Elderen, owner of FB-Trade, met Kizandy® founder Brian Schroeder at a trade fair featuring U.S. brands seeking European distribution.
It was completely new to me, and it looked fantastic – recalls Reinier.
We saw an opportunity, as Kizandy® had a distribution challenge, and that happens to be one of our biggest strengths, thanks to our extensive logistics operations in the food sector.
With decades of experience in food logistics and distribution across Europe, the FB-Trade team, together with Jurgen Didden, who brings over 25 years of commercial expertise, began exploring Kizandy’s market potential. Early consumer feedback was overwhelmingly positive – customers were drawn to the brand’s eye-catching tins, vibrant presentation, and refined flavours.
FB-Trade secured a 20-year license to exclusively bring Kizandy® to markets where the U.S. parent brand has yet to establish a presence, spanning more than 170 countries, including all of Europe.
Originally founded in the United States by Brian Schroeder, Kizandy® — combining taste, style, and innovation. Until now, Kizandy® Sours & Mints were manufactured in Washington and packed in China, a process that resulted in lead times of up to six months, and to better serve European customers, the brand decided to search for production closer to home. That search led to Sweetpack, a family-owned confectionery producer in Lommel, Belgium.
We were immediately impressed by the professionalism and expertise of the Melis family and their team, – said Reinier van Elderen.
They managed to craft an amazing pastille, with a hard pressing, a smooth texture, and an even more refined taste experience.
Together, FB-Trade and Sweetpack invested in a state-of-the-art production line, now fully operational within Sweetpack’s modern facilities in Lommel. The installation was realised with the precision and technical excellence of a highly skilled team, ensuring consistent quality and reliability in every tin produced. The team expects to produce 20-25 million tins per year, equal to tens of millions of candies. With its new European production hub, Kizandy® is now ready to deliver its signature candies with shorter lead times, greater flexibility, and a smaller carbon footprint, while further developing and strengthening the brand’s global standards of excellence.
This is more than just a production milestone, it’s the start of Kizandy’s European story, – adds Jurgen Didden
We’re proud to bring this stylish, and flavourful brand closer to our customers and share its joyful energy with Europe.