Expedition Company H. J. Goes & Sons from The Meern is an all-round logistics service provider of conditioned products. This year the company celebrates its 100th anniversary. With years of knowledge and experience in the distribution and storage of fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and other packaged goods, Goes has occupied a prominent place in the industry. General manager Herman Goes looks back on a century of national and international transport.
On July 29 1913, Herman J. Goes started private parcel delivery service by horse and cart in Vleuten. Transported goods included cooking oil, flour and medicine. In 1924 horse and carriage were replaced by a Model T Ford. "We still have the bill for it,” laughs Goes. “That car cost Herman J. 2,500 guilders, a small fortune.”
In 1949 the business turned international with a transport line to Germany. After that, Belgium, France and Italy. 1991 saw the partial relocation to De Meern, where expansion was possible. By 2000, the whole company resided there. Today, Goes & Sons is an impressive logistical company, having acquired other businesses in the process, like Gebroeders Vijn in 2001, Berbée Transport & Expeditie in 2002 and TOP Transport & Logistiek in 2009. “For a while we focused on Germany,” says Goes, “but now we‘re reconsidering expansion to France and other destinations. Setting up a healthy French connection is in the pipeline.”
Like many other transport companies, Goes has had to add value in order to stay competitive. Goes: “We installed several ripening rooms, and we now have access to our own packing department. If we have to first have to deliver the goods to a packer, it means extra costs and more delays. Now we can handle it ourselves. I think service providers will always have a place in the chain, but you have to diversify in order to stay relevant to customers.” Still, reducing costs continues to be an issue. “All around us you see companies employing Polish drivers, who are cheaper. I think we’re heading that way as well. But not at the expanse of the Dutch drivers we already employ.”
