House Resolution 141

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING PETER DEBEUKELAER AND MIREILLE DEBEUKELAER UPON THEIR SUCCESS AS THE FOUNDERS OF THE WORLD FAMOUS PIROULINE WAFER COOKIE AND UPON THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS, Mr. Peter DeBeukelaer along with his lovely wife, Mireille, who are the founders of the Madison, Mississippi, based Pirouline DeBeukelaer Cookie Company, came to America over 45 years ago to rear their family and ultimately achieved the American dream of success while simultaneously giving back to the community; and

WHEREAS, Mr. DeBeukelaer, as the ultimate entrepreneur, decided to bring his Belgium-inspired baking skills to America as his grandfather was a baker in Belgium, and he took the most famous recipes that dates back to the 1800s of the family's cookies - specifically the Pirouline - and reinvented it for the American market; and

WHEREAS, in 1984, the DeBeukelaers built their company, Pirouline, in Madison, Mississippi, literally with their bare hands as they poured the bakery foundation and designed baking equipment for their company, and this family-based company, with the original facility occupying a total of 15,000 square feet, began with 10 employees, some of whom have continued to make contributions to the company for several decades; and

WHEREAS, the DeBeukelaers harnessed their passion for baking and the country quickly fell in love with the company's slowly toasted caramelized delicate wafers that are rolled and filled with delightful cream, and these delectable wafer cookies are easily recognized in their red and white medal cans; and

WHEREAS, due to the popularity of the Pirouline rolled wafer, the DeBeukelaers wisely got their Pirouline swirl trademarked so that other companies would not imitate their unique identifier of the Pirouline, which is its chocolate swirl; and

WHEREAS, as evidence of a flourishing company and the increased demand for their adored and tasty Pirouline, the DeBeukelaers expanded their facility from 15,000 square feet to 115,000 square feet, and their Pirouline team has blossomed into well over 200 contributing employees; and

WHEREAS, the DeBeukelaers tasty wafer cookies are world renowned and are exported to over 33 countries and throughout the entire Untied States and at major retailers, such as Walmart, and the famous wafer cookies have even been featured as Starbucks' Holiday Cookie Straws, which is a testament of the cookies' popularity; and

WHEREAS, as forward thinking owners of a successful company, the DeBeukelaers introduced a broad range of teaching and baking innovations and deployed robotic packing as well as several other innovations using the assistance of 3D printing, and they consistently invest in their team members with technical training to enhance their skills; and

WHEREAS, in addition to investing in their team members, the DeBeukelaers, who are blessed with a philanthropic spirit, know the importance of supporting schools through a combination of donating equipment, time and funds as well as blessing others with their magical rolled wafers; and

WHEREAS, additionally, the Madison Countians Allied Against Poverty, the Local Food Pantry, the Mississippi Symphony, the Library Foundation of Madison County, the Run Against Traffick, Youth Village of MS, Steps 4 Shep Foundation, Food for Thought Event, Batson Children's Hospital and the OMS Life Foundation are just a few of the organizations, where the DeBeukelaers give back to their community, and they have even donated 3D printers to both Germantown Middle School and St. Anthony Catholic School - an act of kindness that has broadened the minds and horizons of these students; and

WHEREAS, further, due to the DeBeukelaers community support, they have received honors such as the prestigious Madison County Business League and Foundation Vision Award in recognition of their remarkable accomplishments and their investment in people, and the resulting positive impact on the local area economy; and

WHEREAS, notably, the rich familial legacy of the DeBeukelaers successful business innovations continues to flourish through the family's third generation, Herwig DeBeukelaer, who serves as its chief operating officer and who carries on the superb business strategies and philanthropic nature of his extraordinary parents, Peter and Mireille DeBeukelaer; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize great Mississippi business owners such as Peter and Mireille DeBeukelaer, whose unwavering commitment to baking excellence while simultaneously reinvesting in the community not only brings great pride to the Magnolia State but to this great country as a whole:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Peter and Mireille DeBeukelaer upon their success as the founders of the world-famous Pirouline DeBeukelaer Cookie Company and wish them continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Peter and Mireille DeBeukelaer and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.