Koster Keunen Holland was founded as a family business in 1852, in 2002 150 years young, in Aalst (near Eindhoven) by Johanna Keunen and Bernhard Koster.
Prime user of refined beeswax then was the candle industry.
In those times bleaching beeswax was a seasonal task because the only available method was exposing beeswax to sunlight in large open fields.
The family business grew steadily as ever-new customers were found and the European market was explored.
While at first beeswax was mainly used for candles, at the start of 20th century pharmaceuticals, food and especially cosmetics also became important markets for beeswax.
In 1930 a USA factory was founded in Sayville, N.Y. to supply the American market and a second home base for the company was established.
In 1973 a new modern factory site was established in Bladel to better serve the ever-increasing customer base, especially for specialty products for the cosmetic industry.
With the acquisition of the German wax refiner / blender August Schmidt Nachfolger in 1991 the product program was further enlarged, thereby continuing the already existing diversification policy.
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