In April 2017, start-up chocolate company La Miam Factory of Belgium (“miam” being French for representing the concept of “yum”) was spun off from Smart Gastronomy Lab (SGL) at the University of Liège. The SGL researches technology for use in the food and drink industry, having four separate and specialized 3D printers.

La Miam Factory’s greatest competition is Belgian chocolate brand Callebaut of Wieze and digital marketing agency “GoAhead Digital Agency” of Wallonia, Hainaut. Callebaut is owned by Barry Callebaut of Zürich, Switzerland, and is one of the world’s largest producers and grinders of cocoa.  In December 2015, Callebaut collaborated with byFlow of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven of the Netherlands, to present King Philippe with a 3D printed chocolate online of his own head while he and Queen Mathilde were on a state visit there. Also in December 2015, GoAhead Digital Agency did a campaign with “crowdfunding” public-benefit corporation Kickstarter of Brooklyn, New York State to raise €15,000 to help with production of a new line of 3D printed chocolate in customized shapes for advertising and/or special occasions.

La Miam Factory’s specialized printer, developed at the SGL, uses melted chocolate to make custom 3D printed objects. Luckily, if you have to wait several hours for your 3D printed chocolate, La Miam Factory proclaims that it’s ready to eat as soon as it comes off the print bed!

The company receives orders of all sizes, from all sorts of; the price ranges depending on the type of chocolate used, and the size and shape of the 3D printed object. La Miam Factory also offers laser engraving to its clients, using a laser cutter to customize chocolate and macarons with a logo or personalized message, which is perfect for company events or a special gift.

A recent not-so-secret customer that availed themselves La Miam Factory’s 3D printed chocolates is Belgian brewery chain Bertinchamps of Gembloux. A Bertinchamps brewery circa 30km from La Miam Factory was hoping to offer a unique, custom prize to the winners of an Easter egg hunt, and asked La Miam Factory to 3D print some chocolate beer bottles. They delivered with circa 25 metres of chocolate to 3D print the beer bottles in less than three hours!