Astra Sweets

About Astra Sweets

Astra Sweets is a well-established name in the world of confectionery. From their production site in Turnhout, they produce thousands of tons of delicacies every year for the Belgian and international markets. Behind this sweet world is a well-oiled production process, in which A-kwadraat has played an indispensable role for many years.

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How we strengthen Astra Sweets together

Our team supports Astra Sweets exactly where needed. Especially with co-packing: assembling, packaging, and finishing confectionery in all shapes and sizes.

We step in when Astra Sweets' production capacity is insufficient or when customization is required. For example, we assist with:

• Putting together mixed boxes for supermarkets,
• Packaging UFOs for the American market,
• Filling tubes and displays for seasonal promotions,
• Correction work, for example when a batch of candy does not look quite right.

This flexibility allows Astra Sweets to cope with peaks and switch quickly without compromising on quality.

"We refer to assignments that we cannot do ourselves as co-packing. We work with various partners for this, but A-kwadraat is very competitive in terms of both price and quality," says Bart.

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How we work together 

A collaboration that grew naturally

According to Bart Van Looy, Operations Director at Astra Sweets, the collaboration with A-kwadraat is almost a matter of course:

“I've been working here for more than five years now, and A-kwadraat has always been here. It feels like they're just part of our team.”‍

Today, a dozen of our employees work on-site at Astra Sweets, while other assignments are carried out at our own locations. Over the years, this has grown into a sustainable partnership based on trust, proximity, and efficiency.

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One team, one atmosphere

What makes this collaboration so special is how naturally our team blends in with the Astra team. Our people wear the same company clothing, have their own lockers, and simply join everyone else at the table in the cafeteria.

"There's really no difference between our employees and those at A-kwadraat," says Bart with a smile. "They're just part of the team."

Daily communication runs smoothly thanks to Mie, the A-kwadraat supervisor who literally sits between the Astra colleagues. These short lines of communication enable quick changes and ensure that the collaboration continues to run smoothly.

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The added value of A-kwadraat

For Astra Sweets, we are much more than just an operational partner. We bring calm, flexibility, and craftsmanship to a production environment that is constantly changing.

• Flexibility: we step in where necessary, without compromising on quality.
• Precision: our work is carried out carefully and consistently, even when performing repetitive tasks.
• Team spirit: our people integrate fully into the Astra team.
• Sustainability: working together locally means less transport and a smaller ecological footprint.
• Entrepreneurship: we actively contribute ideas, adapt, and work together to find solutions.

"What they do is more complex than it seems," says Bart. "Every day, they prove that people make a difference. Their accuracy and positive attitude are truly infectious."

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How we make an impact together

Our collaboration with Astra Sweets proves that social entrepreneurship and industrial efficiency go hand in hand. Whereas there used to be a distinction between 'sheltered workshop' and 'business partner', today we talk about a fully-fledged partnership.

“A-kwadraat shows that customization is a valuable service,” says Bart. “They bring together talent, quality, and humanity, and that’s what makes our collaboration so valuable.”