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Naftali Laufer, also known as Norbert, was born on 12 January 1870 in the Hungarian city of Tarnów. The city had a thriving Jewish community with a strong tradition of trade and craftsmanship. Naftali grew up in an environment that highly valued entrepreneurship and commercial skill. In June 1889, Naftali married Anna Weindling. Shortly after their wedding, the couple emigrated to Belgium. They had two sons: Leon (1900) and Marcel (1907).
Naftali entered the world of chocolate thanks to his wife’s family. Together with her father and brothers, he founded a company in Antwerp. From 1903 onwards, Naftali and Anna jointly managed the family business. World War I brought additional challenges for Naftali Laufer, particularly as a Jewish immigrant in Antwerp. Thanks to his successful business, he was able to retain his residence permit. The ongoing war made chocolate production increasingly difficult: sugar supplies were limited and strictly rationed, and the factory had to close temporarily. After the war, production resumed.
All this time, Naftali did not hold Belgian nationality. Although he met all the requirements, it was not until 1930 that he was officially recognized as Belgian. In the 1930s, the business grew substantially, and the Laufer family enjoyed a strong reputation as entrepreneurs. This led in 1939 to a collaboration with another entrepreneurial family, the Swolfs. This merger was intended to mark the beginning of an ambitious future in a flourishing Belgium. But their fortune changed abruptly in May 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded.
The Laufer family was registered in the Antwerp Jewish registry and had to join the Association of Jews in Belgium. In June 1941, Naftali and his son Leon were forced to leave the company, and their shares were transferred to Clément Swolfs. A German decree required that Jewish-owned businesses in occupied Belgium prove they were free of Jewish capital and that Jews did not hold managerial positions. Naftali and Leon remained involved in the company, respectively as office employee and advisor.
On 4 September 1943, a large raid took place in Antwerp. Jews with Belgian nationality were targeted. Naftali, his wife Anna, their son Marcel, and Leon with his wife and children were arrested and taken to the Dossin barracks. However, the camp was overcrowded, so Jews over 60 were sent to special care homes. Naftali and Anna were taken to a retirement home in Anderlecht, where they stayed for more than a year. They survived the war. Marcel, Leon, and his family were deported and murdered in Auschwitz.
After the war, Naftali filed a case at the Commercial Court to reclaim his shares. The court ruled the sale agreement invalid, as it had been made under duress. After the war, Laufer and Swolfs continued their activities, but the company remained weakened. In 1967, the business was declared bankrupt.