Australian Homemade is a
franchise formula for
confectionery
Confectionery is the Art (skill), art of making confections, or sweet foods. Confections are items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates, although exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confections are divided into two bro ...
stores owned by Australian Homemade, based in
Veenendaal
Veenendaal () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a town in central Netherlands, located in the province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. Veenendaal is the only population centre within its administrative borders. The municipal ...
, Netherlands. Originally a Belgian ice-cream store named Australian opened in
Knokke
Knokke () is a town in the municipality of Knokke-Heist, which is located in the province of West Flanders in Flanders, Belgium. The town itself has 15,708 inhabitants (2007), while the municipality of Knokke-Heist has 33,818 inhabitants (2009).
...
, set up by the Flemish businessman Frederik Van Isacker, which expanded to many locations within the country. In 2001, a Dutch businessman bought the foreign ("rest of the world") rights and opened stores in neighbouring countries. The Belgian franchise ice-cream and waffles brand "Australian" remains under separate and unrelated ownership from Australian Homemade up to the present day.
Australian Homemade stores are now prominently known for providing
chocolate
Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cocoa beans that can be a liquid, solid, or paste, either by itself or to flavoring, flavor other foods.
Cocoa beans are the processed seeds of the cacao tree (''Theobroma cacao''); unprocesse ...
bonbons as much as ice creams and candies. Their products often incorporate
Indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...
art designs.
There are currently over 50 stores found in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
Aboriginal reaction
Some Indigenous Australians reacted with anger at Australian Homemade, accusing them of
cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or cultural identity, identity by members of another culture or identity in a manner perceived as inappropriate or unacknowledged. Such a controversy typically ari ...
through their use of Aboriginal designs without permission.
In defence, the company says the designs were by a Dutch artist inspired by indigenous art and had no intention of causing offence to Indigenous Australians. They were reportedly working with the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (1990–2005) was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting thei ...
to help promote Aboriginal issues.
Sun Herald article on Aboriginal reaction
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See also
* Chocolaterie
* Foreign branding
In advertising and marketing, foreign branding is the use of foreign or foreign-sounding brand names for companies, goods, and services to imply they are of foreign origin, generally to make them appear to come from a place that seems attractively ...
References
External links
*
Dutch chocolate companies
Ice cream parlors
Ice cream brands
Retail companies established in 1979
Dairy products companies of the Netherlands
1979 establishments in the Netherlands
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