A rich history
What started in 1895 as a small bakery grew into a leading bakery chain: a large family business. For generations, we have combined craftsmanship with innovation, with one goal: to provide the Netherlands with fresh and tasty bakery products. Discover our journey through time.
Goedhart Borgesius, a baker in Onstwedde, once saved a skipper's child from drowning. As a reward, he gets a bag of money, or so the stories go, with which he sets up his own bakery in Wildervank. On December 7, 1895, Goedhart Borgesius started his own bakery on the Pekelderweg. It is the beginning of this extraordinary history.
Eldest son Tjakko Borgesius starts a bakery at Sluisstraat 16 in Musselkanaal. Together with his wife Henderika Baas, they had two children: Goedhart Berend and Annie. It is the beginning of the current Borgesius family's line.
Goedhart and Emilie took over the business from their father Tjakko in 1955. Goedhart wanted to innovate and had all ideas about new products, different ovens and more advanced machines. In doing so, he lays the foundation for the company as it is today. They had four sons: Ko, Hennie, Jan and Frits.
The 1967 Bread Decree marked a huge change: bakers are allowed to deliver to supermarkets. This turned out to be the best move ever. Borgesius Bakery starts delivering bread to four Spar stores. These supermarkets still exist today, but under a different name.
Goedhart Berend Borgesius died in 1977. His four sons Ko, Hennie, Jan and later also Frits take over the business from their parents. They grew up in the bakery, spent their childhood there and earned their first money there. Although they are gradually growing towards it, the choice to actually go into the bakery is really one that everyone makes for themselves. Due to the rise of Retail, the family business is experiencing great growth.
In 1980, the four brothers bought Vonk Oppenhuizen's bakery from Meneba in Leeuwarden. Around 1990, they took on a new challenge. Borgesius Convenience in Leeuwarden is set up and the brothers go for sandwiches. The bread for the sandwiches comes fresh from their own adjoining bakery. In 1999, the bakery in Sappemeer came into the hands of the family.
In 2008, the former Quality Bakers bakeries in Arnhem and New Amsterdam were purchased. With Stadskanaal, Leeuwarden and Sappemeer, the family business now consists of 5 industrial bakeries.
All the choices that the company makes exude independence and independence. This idiosyncrasy also determines the next strategic move: the takeover of Bakkersland. The new combination has around 2000 employees who work in one of the 20 bakeries across the Netherlands. A huge milestone in the history of the family business, which more than doubles in one fell swoop. The bakery family continues as a family of bakers.
Borgesius-Bakkersland splits into several independent companies. Under the names Goedhart and Borgesius, the company transmits the sense of family and increases continuity and strength.
The family of bakers and the family of bakers Borgesius and Goedhart was exactly 125 years old on December 7, 2020 and received the Royal predicate from Commissioner of the King of Groningen mr. drs. René Paas. “An absolute crown on the work of family and employees with whom we do this together,” says Jan Borgesius.
A beautiful new building is being built in Leeuwarden for the production of convenience products. In addition, the company is entering into a new partnership with Qizini, another major player in the market for convenience products. They will continue under the new name Goedhart Bakery Kitchen.
