Wafer Paper Money from Oostzaan is big news

 

Exciting News: Our Company Featured in Noord Hollands Dagblad!

We are thrilled to announce that our company has been prominently featured in a major article in the Noord Hollands Dagblad! This feature spotlights our groundbreaking project focused on edible money and edible wafer paper, showcasing our commitment to innovation in the food industry.

 

Acknowledgment of Our Innovations

This article serves as a wonderful recognition of our hard work, dedication, and passion for innovation. Our team has tirelessly explored the potential of edible paper and its applications, and we are proud to share our journey with a wider audience.

 

What Is Edible Wafer Paper?

For those unfamiliar, wafer paper is a type of edible paper made from starch, sunflower oil and other natural ingredients. It is widely used in cake decorating and culinary arts due to its versatility and ease of use. Our innovative approach takes this classic ingredient to new heights by developing edible money that not only looks impressive but also promotes sustainability.

Why Edible Money?

The concept of edible money has captured the imagination of food enthusiasts and innovators alike. Imagine enjoying a delicious treat while also supporting sustainable practices! Our project aims to combine aesthetics with functionality, creating an experience that delights both the palate and the eyes. This recognition from the Noord Hollands Dagblad reinforces our belief in the potential of edible paper products at Primus Wafer Paper to revolutionize the way we think about food and natural confections  or “”better-for-you sweets”

Join Us on Our Journey

We invite you to read the full article in Noord Hollands Dagblad to learn more about our exciting developments in edible wafer paper and edible money. Our story is just beginning, and we are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with edible paper.

Here you can find the translation of the newspaper article.

OUWEL Edible banknotes from Oostzaan are a global hit:

From zloty to dollar: one million kilos of international currencies per year.

"For over a century, Primus Wafer Paper has been producing edible paper, a classic product made from potato starch that ends up in cookies, under fruit bars, and in cakes. But for the past year, the machines have primarily been printing banknotes. Orders for foreign currencies are coming in from all directions: "Suddenly, we became a hit."

 

Oostzaan's euros, Indian rupees, American dollars, Swiss francs, Polish zlotys, British pounds, or Chinese renminbis. In gigantic packages, international currencies roll off the production line at the industrial area De Ambacht in Oostzaan. Roughly, the factory produces about a million kilos of edible paper per year, and an increasingly larger share of that is banknotes. 

What sets Primus Wafer Paper apart from banks or organized crime is that their money is edible. Director Wouter Smits (43) demonstrates: without hesitation, he bites into a 200-euro bill that melts away on his tongue within seconds. There are a few other differences from real banknotes. "Ours is not printed double-sided, which is not allowed by law. There’s also no watermark, and we incorporate the year 1916 everywhere; a nod to the origin of our factory."

Ouwel is the traditional name used for the products from Smits' factory. Nowadays, it is better known as edible paper, made from potato starch. Most people recognize it as the protective layer under coconut macaroons, bitter cookies, or nougat. Primus Wafer Paper from Oostzaan is the global market leader in the production of edible paper. The factory has been around since 1916 and originated along the banks of the Zaan in Zaandam. Smits has been at the helm since 2021.

Eureka  
One of his first tasks for the over hundred-year-old factory was to remove all chemicals from the ingredients. Until Smits took over, ammonia was always used, an essential additive to help the starch mixture firm up and become less sticky. The director solved this challenging chemical problem with the help of other chemists, making the edible paper now one hundred percent biodegradable. He proudly states that stray ouwel dissolves on the ground with just a rain shower. "Only we have mastered this trick. It’s our luck that no one 

in the world makes edible paper in the same way; ultimately, it is quite a tricky craft. And that makes our product sought after.” 

The world of edible paper is fairly straightforward. There aren't many different purposes for which Primus's ouwel is used. For example, it is used in the confectionery industry to prevent baked goods like nougat or fruit bars from sticking together in packaging. The edible paper is also used in communion wafers, edible brand stickers on food products, or edible printing on cakes and advertisements. “In general, it’s a pretty clear-cut and traditional market,” says Smits. “When I was appointed, I was tasked by the board to explore whether there are opportunities in other markets.”

**Sugar-Free Candy**  
He quickly turned his attention to the candy industry. Smits found the share of candy paper in the overall global billion-dollar industry to be quite small. “I was curious if we could make a bigger impact in that area. Because in theory, our paper is healthier than 99 out of 100 candies. It is, after all, sugar-free.” His own children inspired him to create edible banknotes. “It remains an interesting theme for them. Perhaps because cash is disappearing more and more from view, it captures the imagination.”

Banknotes are not new for Primus, as the factory has produced them in the past. “That was in an opportunistic mood or leftover from a batch of edible paper. Not to seriously make it a product line.”

Smits took a bold step and went with a delegation from the Oostzaanse ouwel factory to Cologne, where the largest fair for candy and snacks in the world is held every year. There, Primus showcased a small assortment of different types of banknotes, featuring various colors, images, and details. “It was a great success,” Smits seems surprised by the reactions at the fair. “Suddenly, we became a hit and, according to many, one of the most innovative products they had seen.”

With the fair's success fresh in their minds, the factory launched three new products, all under the name Yummy and sized like a large euro note: Doodles (with children’s drawings), Jaws (sour mats), and of course Money (banknotes). And Primus wouldn’t be Primus if the products couldn’t be customized to individual taste.

“We are primarily a factory and adjust our production to meet customer requests. You ask, we deliver.” 

**24/7**  
Since then, the demand has skyrocketed, and the printing press is working overtime. Orders for banknotes are coming in from all over the world. And now, the edible paper is no longer just for children. All kinds of companies are placing orders for edible cash with Primus. “We produce thousands of kilos per year,” says Smits. 

Since the edible paper is only a few millimeters thick and therefore has little weight, you can print a massive amount of banknotes from it. “It’s quite possible that this will become the mainstay of our production in the long term. We are prepared for growth and could double our output without having to relocate.” 

In the Netherlands, the edible euros are currently only available at the retail chain Wibra. However, Smits promises that “one of the largest retailers” in the country will partner with Primus this year, but he cannot disclose who that is yet. “In other European countries, we are already available in supermarkets and candy stalls.” A bag of Yummy Money costs less than one euro, Smits promises. “And for that, you get back 685 euros in edible money—now that's an investment, isn’t it?”