25 years of Snijpunt – A look into the future

This jubilee year we have already spoken with various people about how it all started, how Snijpunt has developed over the past 25 years, and how it stands at this moment. It is high time to look ahead.

This time we talk to Jelte van Kammen, general manager of Harvest House, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Together with him we look into the future. Not through a crystal ball, but from the viewpoints and strategy that the growers’ association has for the coming years.

Let’s go back a bit first

To be able to look ahead, we will of course briefly look back at 2018. The year that Harvest House took over Snijpunt. We ask Jelte about the main reason for the takeover. “We already did very well in the retail sector and are good at organizing large volumes. But we fell short in terms of added value,” explains Jelte. “We had just set up Food Fellows for the processing of tomato waste streams, but we were still missing something for the bell peppers. We were looking for a solution to add value to these residual flows as well. Our eye quickly fell on Snijpunt. Via our growers we heard that the people at Snijpunt themselves regularly indicated that they were ready for the next step.”

Conversations with Marco Romein and Bjørn van Holsteijn followed. “They quickly saw that this way they could take the next step, both with Snijpunt and personally. Thanks to the growers of the cooperative, two thoughts came together and we soon agreed.”

Sustainability and waste

Sustainability and the prevention of food waste are topics that Harvest House is fully engaged in. With the takeover of Snijpunt, the growers' association has been able to take a very big step in this direction. The products that have been rejected for retail are no longer thrown away and are processed in the production of Snijpunt. And in addition to tomato sauce, also paprika sauce is now being made by Food Fellows.

According to Jelte, there were no big surprises after the takeover. What was devised before the takeover turned out to work. “It was very nice to see how some customers, who tried to do the work of Snijpunt themselves during the corona period, quickly returned. It was just impossible. The added value of Snijpunt was proven!”

The next 25 years

On to the future. What does that look like from Harvest House's point of view. “In the coming years, we especially want to invest more time and energy in doing those things that no one else can do. Adding difficult or labour-intensive products to the range. And to constantly innovate, optimize, and listen to the wishes of the customers,” says Jelte. “We will pay more attention to the smaller segments, such as food service, catering and cutting companies. We want to add more value here from the whole group, with Snijpunt in the lead.” Jelte hopes to be able to add many more beautiful products to the range in the coming years.

Frans van der Burg collaborates with Snijpunt on behalf of the Harvest House management. “In addition, the creativity and daily management lie with Mark and his team. And it should stay there.” Jelte sees great opportunities for mono products in the coming years. “Not for mixed products. Our customers are simply much better at that,” emphasizes Jelte. “We certainly don't want to sit on their chair either, but we can imagine that the demand for mono products will come from customers who also serve retail. It would be great to be able to answer that question with Snijpunt.”

Jelte also sees more and more benefits from the cooperation between the growers and Snijpunt, Food Fellows in the coming years. “They are two odd ducks within our cooperative, but we notice that growers are increasingly seeking interaction and finding each other more quickly. That can only lead to more beautiful things.”

During the anniversary party of Snijpunt, Jelte proudly took place on stage together with Marco and Mark. Here they allowed themselves to be subjected to the questions that Hélène Hendriks asked about the then and now of Snijpunt. Looking ahead to the coming years, he says with a laugh: “In 25 years I will be 82 and I will probably not be on that podium again. But I hope my successor will be just as proud as I am!” He thinks that Snijpunt has a very nice team that comes into its own in the current organizational structure, which gives the companies a lot of space. “Snijpunt shows its leadership. Keep that up. Find the team and keep growing!”