On Monday, Helmer B.V. from Breda in the Netherlands was 50 years old. This company packs, loads and stores fruit and vegetables. Lizette Helmer has been at the helm for 20 years. She is the daughter of founders, Dik and Bep Helmer. Lizette says, "Grandad Visser was a wholesaler at the old auction house in Breda. My mother, Bep, worked there. My father also worked at the old auction house; for Christ van de Genugten. That is where my parents met. They were married in 1962."
In 1968, Dik decided to start his own business. "He started it with help from Grandad Visser. He opened for business on 14 May 1968 at the RBT Auction House, 265 Heilaar Street, Breda. My Mum and Dad started this together and built a nice company. They worked with various exporters, wholesalers, and vegetable farmers."
Dik Helmer
"Over the years, my parents also started packaging produce. They did whatever the client wanted. They packed lettuce into bags and packaged weighed leeks. At the same time, they packed sprouts and transported tomatoes. Nothing was too outlandish. As the packaging activities increased, my parents purchased machines. Two for net packaging and one for sealing cucumbers. They bought another that sealed mushrooms. In 1995, the company relocated to a different warehouse on the same premises. They then got a flow pack and a sticker machine. The latter was specifically designed to label bell peppers destined for America. After the auction house closed down, my parents switched completely to packaging and loading, and off-loading, fruit and vegetables."
Lizette took over the company from her parents in 1998. "My father helped out until his death in 2007. My mother stays home to care for my children. During this time, packaging was increasingly being done directly at the farms. This meant less work for us. Meanwhile, there was an increase in the demand for storage space for fruit and vegetables. This development equalled an opportunity. My team and I grabbed it with both hands."
Lizette Helmer
"After 50 years, I can say we have not done too badly. I am proud of my Mum and Dad. They gave me the chance to continue their business. We have a lot of work. This is thanks to my regular clients entrusting their trade to us. Much has changed in our warehouse over the last two years. This includes the addition of 15 000 m2 cells. Thanks to these adjustments, we hope to be able to be of service to our clients for many years to come."
For more information:
Helmer BV
Lizette Noordijk - Helmer
5325a IABC
4814 RB Breda
T +31 (0) 765 302 020
F + 31 (0) 765 302 025