The history of Kragtwijk Finest Food in Amstelveen dates back to 1966, when Frans Kragtwijk sold his sweet shop and snack bar to start a catering company after a client asked him to cater a party. In 1998, his son Joost took over the business, and 20 years later, the company received a significant boost with the acquisition of Langerhuize, a specialist in kosher cuisine and special meals for the aviation industry, care institutions, and hospitals. Among other things, this company supplied Europe's only Jewish hospital, located just a stone's throw from Kragtwijk. This acquisition proved a turning point—today, Kragtwijk Finest Food possesses unique expertise in kosher cuisine and, through its "free-from" concept, can effortlessly meet special dietary requests, such as lactose-free, gluten-free, allergen-free, and halal meals.
© Dawsongroup Benelux
"Our customers include international airlines and cruise lines. We supply meals not only to KLM but also to Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates, and Etihad, at airports in Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, and Milan, and by ship in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We have truly focused on kosher meals as well as allergen-free dishes, combining great taste with the necessary certifications. Many suppliers label their meals as potentially containing gluten, but for someone with a gluten allergy, that's not acceptable. With our free-from catering, we offer a reliable solution for allergen-free diets. This allows airlines and cruise lines to ensure passenger comfort starts on board," says Joost Kragtwijk.
Gluten-free, lactose-free, or halal
"Whether it's gluten-free, lactose-free, or halal, we deliver culinary masterpieces tailored to various dietary needs. This means our customers don't need to order an extensive range all at once—we provide a compact but flavorful selection of meals that don't compromise on taste, despite dietary restrictions. We have a fantastic team of around 60 people working every day to provide guests with the best possible meal. Everything is freshly prepared in our own kitchens and bakery—and you can taste the difference," Joost says. According to him, the biggest challenge is keeping up with laws and regulations. "Especially in aviation, there are numerous certification requirements. And even if you're compliant today, you can almost be certain that new certifications will soon require further adjustments."
When Joost took over in 1998, the company was already working with Dawsongroup Benelux. "We were already short on cooling and freezing space back then and had two units on-site. These were meant as a temporary solution, but, as is often the case, became a permanent fixture," the entrepreneur recalls. After relocating, Kragtwijk opted for the so-called Superbox from Dawsongroup, a premium unit featuring a sliding door to integrate seamlessly into the logistics process. More recently, the culinary specialist also began using a PolarStore (40ft) for additional freezer space. Joost deliberately chose to rent the container. "For us, it's a flexible solution. Internally, we're currently building another freezer room, but until that's complete, this setup maintains our storage capacity while allowing us to monitor our cash flow closely. And if we need additional capacity again, we know where to go. We enjoy working with Dawsongroup. There's no hassle—they do what needs to be done, and if there's a problem, it's resolved immediately. Practical and effective, just the way I like it!"
For more information:
Kragtwijk Finest Food
Joost Kragtwijk
[email protected]
Dawsongroup Benelux
Jelle Witjens
[email protected]
