On Saturday, September 28, Combilo in Waddinxveen, Netherlands, was bustling with activity as the fresh produce trading company celebrated its 100th anniversary. A remarkable 750 guests, including colleagues, friends, customers, and suppliers, were invited to the centennial celebration.
Director Harro van Rossum shared insights in a conversation with presenter Bas van Werven about the company's incredible journey over the past century. The Combilo story began in 1924 when brothers Krul and Cornelis van Rossum founded Combinatie Loosduinen, engaging in commission trading and repackaging vegetables purchased at the auction. In the 1950s, the company moved to Delft/Den Hoorn, the second generation took over, and the export business to Germany, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia began to flourish.
Harro joined the family business in 1988, initially heading to Spain to learn the language and the trade while focusing on exports to Southern Europe. The biggest change he noted was the disappearance of the auction clock at the end of the 1990s. "For 75 years, the clock was the centerpiece of our company, symbolizing the connection between cultivation and trade. When the entire system vanished, we responded by establishing Vers Direct Nederland, where we began collaborating directly with growers alongside a few colleagues. That was quite revolutionary at the time."
"This collaboration changed everything. Our buyers are now the sellers for our suppliers, and our salespeople are the friends of our customers," Harro explained. Over the years, Combilo has expanded significantly, and today, 170 employees work to deliver fresh products to consumers across Europe through retailers, food services, and wholesalers. "Yet, the family atmosphere is still very much alive here," Harro emphasized. One employee, Ger van Laarhoven, has been with Combilo for an impressive fifty years, and he was celebrated particularly on Saturday.
The future outlook is also promising, emphasizes Commercial Director René de Weerdt. "The demand for healthy, fresh vegetables is growing, which presents enormous potential for our company and our sector. In addition to the greenhouse vegetables we have specialized in for 100 years, we will also focus more on open-field vegetables in the coming years."
Of course, there are challenges as well. Operational Director Ron Toet mentioned several key issues, including ensuring product availability for customers, creating efficient supply chains, managing cost structures, increasing sustainability efforts, and reducing the company's footprint. To combat food waste, Combilo has built a sustainable and versatile production facility called Combilo Food Solutions, where natural ingredients are made from vegetables and fruits. On Saturday, visitors were treated to a delicious pepper soup made from the company's kitchen.
Annemarijn van Rossum, the fourth generation of the Van Rossum family has now joined the company. This was not the original plan. "We often talked about bell peppers and tomatoes at home, which I didn't find appealing at all. However, when a trip to Australia was abruptly cut short due to COVID-19, Annemarijn ended up joining the business, where she learned about many aspects of the company in just five years. I find the sector incredibly dynamic; every day is different. I also really enjoy working with my father and hope to proudly represent the company as the fourth generation of Van Rossum."
Combilo had asked visitors to donate a gift to the Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam for the '3D-printed Children's Medicines' project. With this promising technology, young patients will soon be able to choose the shape, color, and flavor of their pills. Annemarijn proudly announced that an impressive €50,000 has been raised for this wonderful cause. This amount will be presented in Rotterdam this week.
After all the guests enjoyed a laser show, the closing toast was made, and the food experience began, the festivities continued well into the night in Waddinxveen.
For more information:
Combilo
Transportweg 23
2742 RH Waddinxveen
Tel: +31 (0)180 44 67 00
[email protected]
www.combilo.nl