In the Netherlands, the Barendrecht trading center was, until three years ago, missing an excess stock wholesaler. That was when Job van den Broek decided to fill that gap. He started alone; now, the Job-AGF team comprises seven people. "We solve other people's problems," begins Job.
"Every trading company or cold storage facility sometimes deals with inferior batches. We have the connections to place these as well as possible. I like this line of business. It's a sector that still involves traditional trading. I worked for years in Poeldijk, learning the trade and building my network. That comes in handy now."
Job's clientele are market vendors from the Netherlands and Belgium, though wholesalers are increasingly finding Job-AGF. "Many of my customers come to see the goods, but I also send plenty of photos to them. I'm expanding exports more and more, too. Those wholesalers are ideal for placing volumes in the market. If someone's stuck with 20 'planks' of bell peppers, I can't get rid of them all at the markets, but I can at wholesalers," he says.
"Now is the busiest time of the year. In the summer, market vendors often go straight to the growers; now, they're all looking for products. We're strong in exotics and greenhouse vegetables. I believe in specialization. It's better to be the best in a specific area than to do a bit of everything."
Although it's not Job's core business, he also established a refrigerated space to sort out and repack produce. "I prefer that companies don't wait too long to bring their wares. The sooner I can resell lesser-quality trade, the better the price I can make," he explains.
Job-AGF's logo on a Dutch transport company's trailer makes the company clearly visible at the trading center. "In the past, people had to bring their inferior quality goods to the Spanish Polder, but that market's not what it used to be. Now, they can bring their trade here. I've gained extensive trust with most suppliers."
"I can sell their goods on commission, but I also do it for a fixed price. The beauty is that I'm no competition to anyone. I'm the solution," says Van den Broek. "If traders drop off their excess stock with me, they can fully focus on their Class I trade. We relieve companies. Let us be your branch for that."
Job's work philosophy adheres to the simple creed 'treat people the way you want to be treated'. "For me, that means giving a price quickly and paying quickly. That benefits everyone. So far, it's served me well, and I've grown considerably. In a few years, I'd like to expand into a larger building with a few docks," he concludes.
For more information:
Job van den Broek
Job-AGF
Mob: +31 (0) 615 174 006
info@job-agf.nl