This year, the Dutch importer wholesaler’s Wijnand de Mooij will celebrate its 50-year anniversary. Currently, internal alterations are taking place in the building at the wholesaler’s market in Rotterdam, in order to make it future- proof. “Since we started to do our own importing from Italy, Spain and France ten years ago, the growth of our company took considerable flight. We would like to continue that line in coming years,” Wijnand says.
“Fifty years ago, my father started his fruit and vegetable shop at Marconiplein when he was 19 years old. After a year he was given a place at the market, and he was a stand-holder there for a few years. Some years later he got half a warehouse on the other side of the market. That’s where he spent the rest of his career, and where the company grew to three warehouses of 100 m2, until we moved into the building in Meerder in 2007,” Wijnand reminisces. “Since then we have had a completely conditioned shed of 1,400 m2 at our disposal, and all of our sales activities take place from there.”
Better look
They are currently working hard to finish the internal alterations. “We used the upper floors solely for storage. We have now thoroughly tackled these, and converted them into office space for myself, the buying and sales departments and the accountancy section. The room downstairs has been completely conditioned to even better display trade. Because of this, we can immediately put incoming trade at the right place in the sales area, which saves a lot of handling so that we can better serve our customers. We serve customers throughout the Netherlands, but intentionally don’t export, so as not to obstruct our exporting customers,” the wholesaler says.
Twenty-six years ago Wijnand joined the company. “In addition to my father and myself, we had two other workers, by now we have 17 employees. The business really gained momentum when we started importing ten years ago. We started that with various types of lettuce and other products from Italy, but for some years now we have also imported cauliflower, bunched carrots, broccoli and citrus from Spain. In this way, we get more permanent suppliers during the winter season in order to offer our customers product year-round, besides the product we directly buy from Dutch horticulturalists in summer.”
Wijnand de Mooij’s main products are the Unica Vera products. The brand with which the Italy import started in 2007. “Over the years we expanded our range considerably, and we have a strict selection procedure, because we do have our reputation to uphold. That is bearing fruit, because we have also built a name for ourselves on the Dutch market,” Wijnand explains. “We also supply curly endive, little gem, coriander, mint and other Spanish products under the Unica Vera label. We currently have good amounts available, and I expect a great week with a sunny weekend and Easter ahead of us!”
Wijnand is also optimistic about the future of the wholesaler’s market in Rotterdam. “Our position is strong because of both our geographic location, the diversity of our supply and our opening times. That makes for a very attractive market. We have people working almost 24 hours per day, six days a week. Because of our extended opening times, every greengrocer has the ability to have fresh fruit and vegetables in their shop early in the morning.”
“The new owner of the market has significant plans to build new buildings and to refurbish, and we can only encourage that. We had good conversations with the new owner, who was also very interested in our vision. In the past 20 years, hardly anything changed, and an improvement of the market is in everyone’s interest. For us, it was a confirmation that we are headed in the right direction with the modernisation of our building,” Wijnand concludes.
To celebrate the 50-year anniversary and the alterations, Wijnand de Mooij will organise an open day for suppliers, customers and family before the summer starts.
For more information:
Wijnand de Mooij
Groothandelsmarkt 170
3044 HG Rotterdam
Tel: +31 (0)10 437 39 84
info@mooijquality.nl
www.mooijquality.nl