How did it all start? With an instinct for business and entrepreneurial courage. An instinct which defines our course of action until this day. An instinct which has made our family business last and prosper for eighty years. This is our why.

In the beginning of the twentieth century craft was still passed on from father to son. That is how Cor Beemsterboer, just like his father before him, became a baker. But he did more than bake bread. He saw an opportunity and seized it. He went from door to door selling his goods. He created his first market.

In 1943 Jan Piet Beemsterboer, JPB for short, officially started his trading firm in import and export of agricultural products such as potatoes, onions, cabbage and carrots. A bold step in the middle of the second world war. But it payed off. The company grew and flourished after peace returned.

Jan Piet’s grandson Jan Beemsterboer took over ownership in 2005 and returned to what made JPB successful in the first place. Trading and export. He decided to expand the offering and focus on a number of products where there would be sustainable competitive advantage to be had because of JPB’s position.

A new focus on four areas was decided upon in which we could consistently compete strategically. JPB started focusing on frozen products such as vegetables, french fries, and proteins, on other fresh products such as garlic, and on commodities such as oils, rice, pulses and seeds, and consumer goods such as pasta, mayonnaise, and mustard.

No one knows exactly what tomorrow will bring. There are many factors and scenarios which we need to take into account to successfully lead us into the coming decades. But whatever happens, and however we need to keep adapting, some things will never change. Our people, our network and our brands will always be our top priority.