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product knowledge "The company started production of this waffle almost 30 years ago," Rodriguez says. "What made us succeed in the market was its high quality and amazing taste - it started as a handmade and artisanal process. Now that time has passed, we use a modern and advanced system for production, but what never changes is the secret recipe." this year and we already have US customers. We are really impressed with the reception we received from US clients; they love our product." While not exactly hot off the press, both of the companies' waffles are ready to eat out of the package at room temperature or after heating in a microwave for 10-15 seconds. They differ in two ways, however. First, B Waffles come either plain (with hints of butter and vanilla flavoring baked in) or with a small sauce packet - and yes, you read that right: it comes with a sauce, not syrup. B WAFFLE! B Waffles each come with a small packet of chocolate-hazelnut sauce instead of syrup for added flavor. "It's a chocolate-hazelnut flavored sachet," Rodriguez says, "which is the most popular topping people eat it with in Europe." "In 2010, among the various waffles on the market, ours was declared the best by Montreal's renowned chefs." Also founded over 30 years ago by a Belgian couple, Bel Gaufre Belgian Waffles is a company based in Quebec that is also breaking into the US. Bel Gaufre's waffles come in different sizes and are already sold in most of the large chain retailers in Canada, says Audrey Lépine, one of the three owners of the company. After buying the company four years ago from the original owners, the Bel Gaufre team has already doubled their sales. "Our new factory allows us to produce a lot of waffles per day," Lépine says. "In 2010, among the various waffles on the market, ours was declared the best by Montreal's renowned chefs. We did only two industry shows WHAT KIND OF WAFFLES ARE YOUR FAVORITE? SOURCE: AYTM 34 * SEPTEMBER 2016 * instore Unlike B Waffle, Bel Gaufre doesn't include any sauce, but does have different baked-in flavors, among them the original vanilla, chocolate, maple, and a savory waffle. But what really sets them apart, Lépine says, is the imported sugar they use in the baking process, which yields more moisture when baked and a caramelization that's not too sweet. They're also produced without any preservatives, so the flavor is more homemade and less processed, she says. 34% homemade 26% restaurant 21% Belgian 19% frozen* *Frozen waffles were eaten most often according to respondents No matter how you prefer your waffles, the Belgians, above all, are expert when it comes to making them - on that point, everyone seems to agree. "Everybody should have the chance to taste and discover what the original Belgian waffle tastes like," Rodriguez says. "And being able to do it in a modern, clean and practical way - anywhere you want, as a ready-to-eat, individually wrapped product - that's a very positive and delicious reason to try them." BEL GAUFRE Audrey Lépine The sauce isn't the draw to the product, however - it's the waffle itself that has most of the flavor. "We prefer to focus on highquality Belgian waffle dough, with first-quality ingredients, including Belgian sugar pearls. That's why flavored waffles (like chocolate or strawberry) aren't included in our range of products yet. The chocolate sauce is just poured over the waffle; you don't warm it up."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of instore - September 2016