Although the actual anniversary date was a little while ago, the party at Postuma AGF was postponed due to the pandemic. This Dutch wholesaler made up for that, in grand style, last weekend with a two-day 110th-anniversary celebration.
On Friday evening, it was the suppliers' and colleagues' turn, and on Saturday, customers got to party with Dutch singer Jan Smit and others. The celebration was in typical "Postuma style," with plenty of fruit and vegetable players from all over the country attending.
Erik and Jitte Postuma with Jarno Kwakkel and Sjoerd Postuma
On Friday evening, Sjoerd Postuma took the guests back to 1911. At the tender age of 11, his grandfather and namesake began selling fruit and vegetables from his cart all over the city of Kampen. That marked the very first step in a journey toward the wholesaler's 110th anniversary. Sjoerd recalled the Second World War, which the business survived, the many changes in the fruit and vegetable sector, and the move a few years ago to new premises.
Twan de Lange and Niels van den Berg of Nature's Pride flank Remon de Kleine of Postuma.
"The auction business has changed. We no longer produce to produce; we produce what consumers want. So the market is constantly changing and will keep doing so. The energy crisis is currently a hot topic in the industry. But perhaps that will bring a renewed awareness of the seasons," Sjoerd said.
He thanked the customers and the now 350 employees who enabled the company's growth. Today, Postuma serves fruit and vegetable specialists in truly every corner of the Netherlands and has recently made inroads in Flanders, Belgium.
Aarsten's Aart Bezemer, Arco van de Klundert and Bart Gouw with Postuma's Jarno Kwakkel.
On Saturday, too, clients from all over the Netherlands and Belgium helped the company celebrate its 110th anniversary. Most had traveled a fair distance but were well-up to parting the night away. The tour of the company and the chilly conditioned rooms ended with a warm welcome by Postuma AGF management and staff.
't Vitamientje.nl team brothers Harmen and Bertjan Westerink and their families enjoying the food court.
Food trucks provided tasty tidbits, and guests could enjoy coffee, cake, and drinks on the outdoor terrace. They could warm up in the marquee where the band M&M got the party going, and Jan Smit serenaded the guests.
Jan Smit in action.
Guests thoroughly enjoyed the party on Saturday. René Vos of Vershal De Kunst thought Postuma should be 'nothing but proud.' "Proud that 110 years later, you've established such a wonderful company. And we, as a customer, are proud to have witnessed and contributed a small part of this from the very start."
"Everything's perfect: the party, but also the daily deliveries and contact with our sellers. And the products' quality. You nailed it on Saturday, and you nail it every day. Thank you, Postuma AGF, for a great evening," she gushed.
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For more information:
Postuma AGF
2 Manenbergring
8271 RX, IJsselmuiden, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 383 370 099
Email: sjoerd@postuma.nl
Website: www.postuma.nl