Family of bakers receives Royal predicate
PRESS RELEASE | It's okay... “After 125 years of hard work, we should now take a moment to reflect on this special moment,” says Jan Borgesius. Groningen's sobriety is good and it takes the Goedhart and Borgesius bakeries far. But that same sobriety can also mean that you keep going, work hard and focus on the next challenge over and over again. Being proud of what you've achieved together, pausing and patting each other on the back every now and then, isn't wrong at all. That is why the Borgesius family is celebrating, together with its employees, of course, because they have achieved this 125th anniversary together.
125 years ago, Goedhart Borgesius and Jantje van der Veen started a bakery with a store in Wildervanck. It was a poor time. People worked as peat cutters along the canal, the canal over which the barges that transported the peat to the city of Groningen sailed. Small shops sprang up near the locks. That's where the company's origins lie in Wildervanck. Until 1967, the bakery was nothing more than a simple bakery with a shop in front of it. In that year, the bakery company, led by Goedhart and Emilie Borgesius, reached an important turning point. A law came into force that allowed supermarkets to sell bread. At that time, there were few bakers who dared to take this step. Goedhart and Emilie saw the potential of Retail. Thanks to the growth of retailers, the bakery business has grown to where it is today.
Since its inception, the bakery has grown from an organization led by family members to a bakery group, a family of bakers, where the craft and passion are cherished by all employees who make delicious fresh products every day. And now, the bakeries named Borgesius and Goedhart are much more than just a bread baker. In addition to bread, cakes, pies and sandwiches, pizzas, focaccias and other delicious products are now also made for drinks. One thing remains: the bakeries will always go for freshness and quality.
The 125th anniversary really ends with the Royal Predicate for the family and all employees in the bakeries. On June 17, 2021, the Borgesius and Goedhart bakeries received this coveted predicate. “This really is the crowning glory of our work,” says Frits Borgesius. “We'll be celebrating soon, together, of course, because we were able to achieve this together with our employees”.
Editor's note/Not for Publication
- Contact person: Patricia Usleeber-van Schaik
- e-mail: p.usleeber@borgesius.nl
- Tel. : 073 599 08 04
- More information: www.borgesius.nl and www.bakkergoedhart.nl
- Press release photos: new Borgesius and Goedhart logos
Other information
Long term and sustainability
Like most family businesses, we have a long-term vision. We still want to be there in 100 years. We pass on our tradition from generation to generation, so that our children and the children of our employees can also become bakers.
We have a wonderful Dutch bread culture, to which we would like to contribute. Because we bake for the future, sustainability is an important theme for us. Bread has a very good image and also a low CO2 footprint. Our bakeries are close to the shops and the vast majority of the ingredients are grown nearby. Any bread that hasn't been sold by the end of the day can be reused. Not a crumb goes to waste because the bread that is not sold can be processed into animal feed. We're not wasting anything. Nevertheless, we believe that things can always be even better, so we will continue to work to lower CO2 emissions.
Dagvers is top sport
Our chain is long: from flour and flour, seeds, kernels, fruit and water as the main ingredients, we make thousands of different recipes and products fresh every day and deliver them fresh to the store before 8 a.m. every day. This fresh food mentality that our bakeries have is unique. Every day, ensuring that such a huge range of products is delivered complete and on time the next day requires a lot from our organization. This is only possible with a strong team that is well attuned to each other and bakeries that help each other. “That's why the Royal label is the crowning glory of our work,” says Ton Borgesius. “This is a 100% team effort and for this we thank everyone who works with us. From bread and pastry chef, packer, distributor to driver, everyone has an equally important role in our company”.
Bread has a good image
Bread is part of a healthy diet. From the scale of 5, whole wheat bread is recommended and most types of bread are also in the highest level of the Nutriscore (A). It is therefore no surprise that wholemeal bread is growing rapidly. By the way, this also applies to low-carb bread. There is also a lot of demand for this from a health and diet point of view.
Bread not only provides energy, but also fiber, protein, B vitamins and iron. Whole wheat bread, in particular, has a positive impact on health. For example, it has even been scientifically proven that whole grain bread reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and serious bowel diseases. The trend towards health continues and thanks to Covid-19, this trend has accelerated.
Translate trends
For us, consumer research is the basis on which we make decisions when it comes to innovation. The people at Borgesius and Goedhart are asking themselves what the Netherlands will look like in 10 years. The younger generations eat differently. Today's consumers have more eating opportunities and would like to have their eating needs met where they are at that moment. For 125 years, Borgesius and Goedhart's challenge has been to respond to changing habits and eating patterns. An omnichannel approach is needed here because consumers no longer think in boxes. Whether they order online or go to the physical store or are on the go, consumers can find our products that match the demand and the time they eat at that moment.
Borgesius and Goedhart are the partners when it comes to answering this important question. Because the changes we are seeing are happening faster than ever before.
Because our bakeries process raw materials into the end product, we can easily respond to tomorrow's demand. Goedhart Patisserie's pastries are handmade from the bottom to the end product. That is why the bakery is able to capitalise on the trend for delicious products that are really a party, such as layer cakes, cup cakes and the tastiest tompouces.
But developments are also rapid at Goedhart Convenience. With bread from its own bakery, Goedhart Convenience can serve fresh sandwiches and sandwiches faster than anyone else. But of course, the most delicious wraps, pizzas, sandwiches and snacks are also made. For today's consumers, there is an offer for on-site preparation, direct consumption and deferred consumption. Whether it's bread, pastries, pies, sandwiches, pizzas, focaccias or snacks, our mission is to let everyone enjoy our delicious and fresh products anytime, anywhere.
Next generation
Janet Borgesius: “Since 2007, I have been working in our family business and, together with my brother, two nieces and our management team, I am 'the next generation'. Together, we have the task of moving our business forward for the generations that come after us. My father Jan is now 70, Uncle Ko retired years ago, Uncle Hennie Borgesius passed away in 2016 and Uncle Frits is now 65. My father and uncles have been dedicated to the company for more than 50 years. The family business always came first. All revenues were reinvested back into the company.
I admire the disciplined way my father and uncles did this. This has brought our wonderful bakery company a better competitive position year after year and has thus given our company the opportunity to continue to grow. Because of the way my father and uncles managed the company, we, the next generation, have a great position in the Dutch market. Thanks to the generations before us, our 20 bakeries, spread across the Netherlands, where almost 2,000 people now work permanently, can have a bright future.”