STOP Spices, herb and spice wholesaler for the food industry
Want to know the secret ingredients behind the success of our herb and spice wholesale business?
Our core values
Quality as a tradition
Herbs, spices and blends of excellent quality: as a Belgian family business, we aim to deliver only the very best flavours to our customers. The knowledge and techniques behind our high-quality herbs and spices have been passed down within the company for almost 70 years.
A fantastic team
We are a herb and spice wholesaler with a flexible team. In our close-knit group of complementary talents, everyone’s strengths are valued. We care about each other, we’re there for each other and we work together every day to achieve results. With you at our side.
More than flavour
As a herb and spice wholesaler, we put flavour first. We select and process all our herbs and spices with the greatest of care. We improve your product with additives where necessary. These include binding agents, thickeners, acidity regulators, emulsifiers and so on.
Something different for every customer
The right flavour means something different to every customer. So we start by listening to what you need, and then we develop the ideal herb and spice blend with you. That way, you can boast a unique product.
Pure creativity
Ask us a question and we’ll start looking for the best solution right away. Expect ideas that go the extra mile and innovative proposals that exceed your expectations.
Want to work together?
Our flavour creators
Isabelle
Managing Director
27 years with STOP Spices
A refreshing whirlwind in a men’s world
“STOP Spices wasn’t my first love. Although I studied biochemistry, my career began in the fashion industry. Now, though, I’m passionate about everything to do with flavour. Above all, I’m intensely proud of all the great projects we’ve successfully completed here.”
Vic
Managing Director
10 years with STOP Spices
Driving force behind a production process that goes like clockwork
“I do my best to set a good example and aim to deliver high-quality products. I like giving our people the right training and tools to do exactly that.”
Han
The perfect partner for our customers
“‘How can we help you best?’ That’s always my first question. From a simple request to the wildest ideas, I’m only happy once we’ve found a good solution.”
Then and now
Flavour is, was and will always be our most important driving force.
The story of STOP Spices is about more than just spice.
It’s a story about flavour and about reinventing yourself whilst staying true to who you are.
A story in which every character is equally important.
1954
Herbs and spices for the meat sector
The story began with Mr Stop in Brakel. As well as teaching apprentice butchers, he started a herb and spice wholesale business for butchers’ shops. His perfectionism and understanding of flavour soon made him a household name in the sector. By the way, he wasn’t really called Mr Stop. We look forward to telling you how he got his nickname at our first meeting.
1980
A new family
Mr Stop had six children, but none of them inherited his entrepreneurialism. One of his suppliers, a sausage skin merchant, once said: “If you ever want to sell your business, let me know.” And that’s exactly what happened. Willem Van Damme gradually wound down his sausage skin business and started focusing entirely on making STOP Spices grow, with herbs and spices for butchers, fishmongers and caterers. And he had all his predecessor’s sense of quality and customer-friendliness.
1997
From retail business to a partner for the industry
The knowledge STOP Spices had gained in the meat and fish sectors also turned out to be invaluable in other industries. Companies were only too eager to work with a business that helped them think things through behind the scenes to improve the flavour of their product. And so the ambitions of the herb and spice wholesaler grew.
2010
From father to daughter
Once she had tried her hand at all the jobs in the company, Mr Van Damme realised STOP Spices was in good hands with his daughter Isabelle. So it was a pleasure for him to pass on the baton. Isabelle and her husband Vic complement each other well. She’s the thinker; he’s the one who gets things done. Above all, both of them are entirely true to themselves.
2020
A solution for everything
The pandemic was a difficult period for many businesses. STOP Spices remained its own practical self and succeeded in making smooth deliveries of herbs and spices in Belgium and the surrounding countries. That caught the eye of a whole host of new customers.
Today
Making dreams come true
“We’ve spent the past few years really building up our business. And we’re continuing to innovate and invest, so that we can respond to our customers’ needs”, Isabelle explains. Making great projects happen every day is what really motivates the herb and spice wholesaler, which prefers to stay in the background and let its customers enjoy the limelight.