Master baker Gerardus Leenaerts opened his first baker’s shop in the heart of the Limburg province in Belgium. He offered delicious tarts and breads made from traditional leavened dough recipes. As more and more customers were flocking to his door, Mr Leenaerts created the company, Narda.
Narda decided to focus exclusively on sugar-dusted waffles and spéculoos production.
On the other side of Belgium, in Coutisse (Namur region), AVIETA was created: 15-hectare orchard named “Au Vieux Tauve”, which produced raspberry coulis and waffles filled with fruits from the orchard.
Business flourished and as time went by AVIETA also moved into Brussels Waffles production. This proved to be a great success, with the quality of AVIETA’s waffles being appreciated in both Belgium and surrounding countries.
Patrick Limauge bought Avieta. This bold and passionate Belgian entrepreneur convinced of the waffle market’s high potential, took up the challenge of developing AVIETA’s activities internationally.
In 1999, the Narda biscuit factory situated at the time on the Zonhoven site and specialised in the manufacture of sugar-dusted waffles, was also bought by Patrick Limauge. Avieta’s expertise was thus enriched and diversified.
In order to satisfy an increasing number of customers, AVIETA continued to forge ahead and invest. A spacious new production plant, complete with administrative head office, was built in Vinalmont.
Avieta adopted a growth strategy fostering products innovation to further expand into international markets.
On 28 November 2020, Patrick Limauge passed away at the age of 64, having dedicated 26 years of his life to Avieta.
He leaves behind his wife, Anne Limauge, and his children, Alexandre and Amandine. They are committed to continuing the development of the family business, travelling the same path as their much-loved husband and father.
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years” – Abraham Lincoln
“Be bold, you are incredible”
“Life is short. Savour what life has to offer, get out in the sun, run through nature, tell the truth that is in your heart, be crazy, be good, be you. There is no time for anything else”
Avieta continues to forge ahead and invests in a third bakery. This new plant will be located right next to the Vinalmont plant and the headquarters. Avieta will then have 3 bakeries spread over 2 production sites in Belgium.
In order to steer the development of its activities in North America , Avieta creates a new subsidiary based in Florida.
