Ben Spaas and Sarah Spaas

EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence Class of 2022, Belgium

Ben Spaas, Managing Director and Sarah Spaas, Director and Sales Manager of Spaas Kaarsen

Ben and Sarah Spaas is the fifth generation of the Spaas family keeping Spaas Kaarsen to stay true to their maxim: lighting up lives.

This is a story that illuminates more than 170 years of heritage. It began in 1853, when Hendrik Jan Spaas decided to transform an old brewery in Hamont, Belgium into a wax bleaching plant. The product, sourced from beeswax, was bleached and sold to monasteries and abbeys to make candles. The small manufacturer has gradually grown and thrived across Europe and is now known as Spaas Kaarsen. Today, Spaas Kaarsen is one of the leading players in the candle-making market. 

In 1887, when the company moved to Sint-Huibrechts-Lille, the management briefly created a cigar factory division, but soon decided to adhere to pursuing its actual purpose: making candles. In 1979, the company moved to its current location. Spaas Kaarsen is widely renowned for their high-quality candles. They ensure their products have been tested in laboratories and comply with international standards. It has now more than 320 employees with factories at Hamont and Poland, and a sales organization focused on Europe. 

Spaas Kaarsen has been awarded the title of Belgian Ambassador of the EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence 2022. The award recognizes businesses that endorse family values and embraces their unique vision. Today, the fifth generation of the Spaas family is guiding the way. Ben Spaas is the Managing Director and Sarah Spaas is the Director and Sales Manager of Spaas Kaarsen. Under their management, Spaas Kaarsen is staying true to its maxim: lighting up lives. 

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