"Within the company, you will often hear, 'never a dull moment at Aartsen'. We're continually in motion. We're also massively eager to work with our partners all over the world to improve that little bit, both in Benelux and Asia. We like setting the bar high at Aartsen," says Menno van Breemen.
Benelux
"Despite our long history here, we're not standing still in the Benelux. On the contrary. We always want to look ahead, and we're growing at the right pace. We don't want to be the biggest; we want to be the best in Breda and Venlo [in the Netherlands] and St. Katelijne Waver (BE). We're outgrowing both our Breda and St. Katelijne Waver locations. We've started a new building project in Belgium to ensure we're prepared for further expansion there too. Plus, we want to keep our level of service to our partners on par. The plans have been finalized, and we hope the proverbial first pile will be driven as soon as possible. That renovated 10,000 m² site means we'll be ready for the future."
Head office Breda
There are plans to create extra room in the warehouses and offices in Breda too. "We're making great strides in our HR, Marketing, IT, and sales departments. For example, we've planned an architectural extension to further develop these divisions. We hope to start that this year. Aside from the planned expansions, we're proud that the launch of our self-developed ERP system won't be long in the coming. We're busy dotting the i's and crossing the t's to ensure everything is ready for a smooth transition. This development will be hugely beneficial and will move Aartsen forward. It will contribute to our team and our partners' future, both in the Benelux and Hong Kong," explains Menno.
Hong Kong
"Aartsen's Asia strategy has always been - right from the get-go - the same as our European vision. We import a huge range of vegetables and fruits directly from about 700 producers from all over the world and we distribute to more than 17 Asian countries. The Far East isn't an easy market. That region's growth means that market is increasingly affecting our global trade. It's a huge misconception to say it's easy; that area is home to a vast number of people. The true key is to get the right product in the right place at the optimal market price. We still want to create as many outlets as possible outside the large traditional cities. Of course, we're represented there, but we're always looking to add value for our partners."
"We're proud that after ten years, Aartsen Asia currently has more than 160 distribution points in Asia," continues Menno. "And, every year, more than nine million boxes of produce find their way to our clients. That's a mix of first, second, and third-tier wholesalers, hospitality customers, street shops, the processing industry, retailers, and online sales. The spread is enormous. We're not standing still on an organizational level either. The renovated office is ready for further growth. The team continues to expand and is approaching 30 people. Our office staff now speak more than ten languages to best serve our clients. Local people, local languages, and being on the spot is essential for the correct control."
Trade shows and travel
Aartsen wants to attend the trade shows in Madrid (Fruit Attraction, October 4-6) and Bangkok (Asia Fruit Logistica, November 2-4). "After a time of restricted travel, we're looking forward to grabbing these opportunities. We heartily invite our business relations to visit our stands. Let's shake hands and grow together," Menno concludes.
For more information:
Menno van Breemen
Aartsen
Tel: +31 (0) 765 248 105
Mob: NL +31 (0) 634 371 358
Mob: HK +85 293 198 078
menno.van.breemen@aartsen.com
www.aartsen.com