Over the years, Saint Louis Sucre has produced numerous collections of original sugar packaging designs which have been snapped up by collectors

In France they are called ‘glycophiles’, from the Greek ‘Gluckus’ – sweet, and ‘philos’- friend. In fact, these ‘friends of sugar’ are actually avid collectors of the packaging used for wrapping sugar products.

Glycophiles first surfaced in Europe in the late Sixties, but it was in 1984 that CEDUS (Centre d’Etudes et de Documentation du Sucre – the French Sugar Institute) got together with a number of collectors to form the first association dedicated to the phenomenon: Club des Glycophiles Français*. The association has grown tremendously since then; in 2001, it boasted around 1000 active members (drawn from all over the world).

There are two types of collectors: glycophiles (who retain the sugar in its packaging), and périglycophiles (who only keep the paper wrapper). Some glycophiles also specialise in collecting more specific packaging (boxes of sugar cubes, the paper or plastic packaging of sugar loafs, bûchettes, flasks, etc.).

Glycophiles from around the world organise frequent meetings to exchange and exhibit sometimes ancient paper packaging that have acquired the status of works of art. Saint Louis Sucre would like to take part in promoting this advertising heritage by showcasing a few photos of its most beautiful packaging.

* Club des glycophiles français – 30 rue de Lubeck 75116 Paris – tel: +33 (0)1 44 25 24 53

Catalogue of Saint Louis sugar packaging
By Jacques Caulet
Published by Club des glycophiles français

Encyclopédie glycophile Française
Published by Club des glycophiles français

History of the sugar loaf
Published by Club des glycophiles français

Catalogue of French sugar packaging from 1950 to the present day
Published by Club des glycophiles français

Catalogue of Swiss sugar packaging
Published by Club des glycophiles français

Catalogue of sugar-related pins
Published by Club des glycophiles français

SARKARA
Newsletter of the sugar packaging collectors
Published quarterly by Club des glycophiles français

La vie du collectionneur – The Collector
French magazine, appears on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month