After 47 years at Mulder Onions - from 1 January 2016 as owner - Gerard Hoekman decided to leave the next generation at the helm as per 1 July this year. Gerard will remain closely involved as owner of Mulder Onions, but no longer in an operational role. From 1 July, Tim van Haandel and René Segers who have been with the company for many years have been managing director and attorney, respectively.
Gerard's career started on 1 February 1978 in Bleiswijk at the then-company NJ Mulder BV. "I was employed then to set up the onion export business to Germany. The company mainly did overseas trade but was not yet active in the German market even though 150,000 to 160,000 tonnes of onions were exported to Germany every year at the time. I set that up then and one thing led to another."
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Various wanderings within the same company
In all those years within Mulder, Gerard has had to deal with several directors. "It started as Mulder. Later, the then-managing director Martin Nieuwstraten took over. He died suddenly, after which Jan Vernooij took over the business, after which it was later incorporated within The Greenery. So I made several wanderings, but I always remained active within the same company."
Asked about milestones over the years, Gerard replies, soberly: "I'm not much of a retrospective person. What I do like is that all the managers I worked with allowed me to develop new things with a lot of personal freedom. Mulder has always been a good company that stands by its staff. I have always felt the trust and never felt I had to ask for it. I can only be grateful for that. Of course, nice and not-so-nice things have happened over the years. However, I am privileged to have had the privilege of traveling a lot and meeting people in numerous other countries with their issues. That does enrich a person!"....
Onion exports grown from 450,000 tonnes to well over a million tonnes
About 75% of Mulder Onions' business consists of onion exports, with potatoes a close second, supplemented by service products such as garlic, carrots, cabbage, and other outdoor vegetables. "The onion market has seen a gigantic upswing. Many packing stations have been added, but exports have also grown tremendously. Onion exports have grown from 450,000 tonnes to well over a million tonnes a year during this period."
"More packing stations have started exporting themselves, but agency exporters are also still a valuable link in the chain. Sorting companies are far from being able to do everything themselves and there are still plenty that do not have the desire to export themselves," Gerard said. "The future for the Dutch onion sector is there, especially with all the climatic extremes. Our logistical starting position remains unique. At the same time, you do see some changes in the global market. If you only see how hard exports to Africa got going this year, we do need that market to export volumes. In the Far East, we are getting more competition from Chinese onions and completely new markets are almost non-existent."
Everyone is in the same boat
Overall, the onion trade did become tougher with the new generation, according to the experienced trader. "You won't hear me say this is wrong, but it is different. Everyone is fighting for their skin. At the same time, I do think it is important for people to keep communicating with each other. We are all in the same boat and struggling with the same challenges. Sometimes it's better to try to find each other rather than each going for themselves."
Gerard has stepped out of the day-to-day operation but remains closely involved with Mulder Onions as a consultant. "I would like to thank all the relations for the many great years and the pleasant cooperation in this beautiful but sometimes difficult industry," Gerard said. He is also open to sharing his knowledge and experience in other areas of the industry. Finally, I wish everyone good health and all thinking well."
For more information:
Gerard Hoekman
Mulder Onions
Hagenroderstraat 32
6464 CP Kerkrade
Tel: +31 (0)45 567 87 00
[email protected]
www.mulder-onions.com