In February 2015 Dammis van der Staay, Rien Panneman and Marco Klein discussed the tight housing of Fresh-Care Convenience during the Fruit Logistica in Berlin. "The turnover developments were taking shape that made the factory too small. You can sit around and wait, announce you're no longer taking customers or do business," concluded Rien Panneman last Friday.
Rien Panneman, mayor Aat de Jonge and Marco Klein
The Staay Food Group chose the latter and bought an area of 32 hectares on the industrial terrain 'De Poort van Dronten'. Staay is in advanced discussions with a number of suppliers about moving to the same location. On Friday April 29 mayor Aat de Jonge drove the first pole into the ground. The expected completion of the new building is set for mid April 2017. The new convenience location contains 27,000 m2 floor space in total.
Location manager Marco Klein
"A new building was a logical choice, which enables us to professionalise and perfect our production methods," explained Panneman. Fresh-Care expects a rise of over 10% per year in the coming years. "The turnover of Fresh-Care Convenience is rising more quickly than expected, in which we realise around 70% of our turnover abroad. I am convinced that we made the right decision with a new building. Both existing and aspiring customers are looking forward to the factory opening."
Cool supplier Peter Huijbregts and Dammis van der Staay
Fresh-Care Convenience is specialised in processing fresh vegetables, fruit and, of course, ingredients, into ready made units such as meal salads, soup vegetables and pizzas. Most of the new factory will consist of high-care and low-care spaces. The hall in which the fresh vegetables are cut and packaged will be completely cooled and is divided into various high-care spaces. Throughout the entire building back cooling by CO2, which is more environmentally friendly, will be used.
Rien Panneman
City Farming
A special part of the new production location is the City Farming part, a conditioned space where lettuce is grown on water, under LED lights without daylight. The cultivation consists of nine layers of 1,000 m2. "A large scale test, in which we have opportunity to scale up. We bought 32 hectares for a reason," said Rien. "As Staay Food Group we have a history in cultivation and we want to grow further in that segment. Now we are growing lettuce all year round in cold ground, but will now do it ourselves in Dronten in a closed environment."
Jacob van der Linden, Rob Beukers, Joop Vernooij and Herman van Rooijen
"Of course the cultivation is a lot more expensive, but it enables us to copy the most optimal cultivation conditions, regardless of the climate. It also makes it impossible for sand or flies to get into the meal salads. We don't need transport with the cultivation under LED and are considerably reducing the cutting waste. All in all, sustainability at its peak," explained Rien. In this project there is close collaboration with other parties and educational institutions, such as Philips, Rijk Zwaan and CAH Vilentum. The new building will also have an auditorium for conducting classes.
Erik Hovens and John Coremans van Rijk Zwaan
The Staay director wishes contractor Heembouw good luck with this demanding client in his speech. "Our location in Papendrecht was realised in half a year. I hope this is how it goes here too, but I believe it should be done faster," Rien laughs. He spoke about his satisfaction with the municipality of Dronten which allowed itself to be the location. "We do not come empty handed. Over 500 people will work in the new factory, both highly educated people and those with a distance from the labour market. We will take up our responsibility for this."
Congratulations from mayor de Jonge...
... and commercial director Rinus Verhey of Heembouw
After a call from Rinus Verhey of Heembouw to Christen the Poort van Dronten as the Poort van Staay, mayor De Jonge promoted Dronten to the agrarian capital of the province. "This is a historic moment. I have often been asked when the break through would take place and a large agrarian company would locate themselves here. Today is the day!" He enthusiastically gave the sign for construction to start with the first pole being placed in the ground. Location manager Marco Klein said he could come back. "We have another 8,400 to go!"