Twenty years ago, Germans who could not appreciate Dutch 'Wasserbomben', ensured the founding of the 'Prominent' growers association, who supplied quality tomatoes to meet the needs of the market. The six entrepreneurs chose to grow vine tomatoes to save the Dutch tomato image. From the six entrepreneurs, the association has grown into 25 members, with a combined growing area of 669 acres of vine tomatoes. On July 1 they celebrated celebrated their 20 year anniversary with employees, growers, customers and others, in De Viersprong, in s'-Gravenzande, The Netherlands.
For the occasion, all members dressed in Prominent-style clothing.
"Jan van Kester called me and said, "We have got to get to the notary because Gartenfrisch wants to form an association, and we have to be first of course," says current chairman Jack Groenewegen, while looking back at the start of it all. Van Kester was Prominent's first chairman. Next was Jan van der Voort; he served for 15 years, and Jack Groenewegen took his place a year and a half ago. "We recently had a malfunction in our system because we had delivered the millionth pallet. Do you know how many tomatoes that is?"
Former chairmen Jan van der Voort and Ad van Kester, current chairman Jack Groenewegen and director Arne van Aalst
The chairman recalled milestones in the 20 year history of Prominent; such as the start of DC, the Groeneweg I and II innovative greenhouses and the decision to take sales into their own hands and leave The Greenery. He feels good about the strategy of getting to know the end customers together with the chain partners and to serve the retail sector, "We have seen how successful that can be with Purple Pride."
Jack Groenewegen
"A lot of things would have to change in the sector, but Prominent does not want to change. We want to work together with others - that has been our specialty all these years - but the difference is, we do not need others like we did in the past. But we do look for the most efficient chains. Of course, several questions still remain. Will the bank cooperate? Will more companies fall under the cooperative like De Grevelingen nursery?," Jack Groenewegen wonders aloud.
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Prominent Board
Director Arne van Aalst thanked all the staff who made the 20 year anniversary celebration possible, and then he put the three chairmen in the spotlight, he also presented the glossy anniversary magazine. He emphasized that fun has always been the basis for their passion, something that is delivered everyday, "Our customers consider us a reliable partner and a supplier of top products. In fact, we are long past the pioneering stage, but we still have the same work culture we had in the beginning, although we are more professional now."
Sector in motion
"Looking back at the last 20 years we can see that there have been enormous changes in the sector, and that things are still changing," says Arne. "We are transforming from a pure product mindset to a more market oriented mindset. It takes courage to change. We live in a globalized world where different rules apply. Within Prominent we are busy with a change in management, so the older generation can make way for the younger generation. We ask ourselves the tough questions. 'Can we compete against the growing sector? Is the strategy we have been using for the last five years the right strategy for the future?' If we can answer these questions and deal with these issues well, Prominent will most definitely be celebrating it's 30 year anniversary in 2025. I look forward to it!"