An Arnhem-based family business has been baking bread for almost 260 years, but is primarily looking to the future

Bij Bakker Hilvers draait het al generaties lang om brood. Maar wie beter kijkt, ziet veel meer dan een bakkerij. Het Arnhemse familiebedrijf geeft mensen een plek, investeert in duurzame technieken en blijft stevig verbonden met de stad en regio. Voor die brede maatschappelijke betekenis ontvangt Bakker Hilvers de Lifeport Parel van The Economic Board.

The history of Bakker Hilvers dates back to 1767, making it Arnhem’s oldest bakery. The Hilvers family has been associated with the bakery since 1950. The fourth generation is now at the helm: Wouter, Jeroen and Bas Hilvers. Together with their parents, Mieke and André, they are carrying on the family business.

They do not achieve this by simply sticking to the way things have always been. It is precisely this combination of tradition and innovation that makes Bakker Hilvers special. In recent years, the company has expanded to twenty branches in and around Arnhem. There has also been a greater focus on the business market, new systems, modern machinery and a more professional way of working.

Yet the core remains the same: providing for people in the region. Day in, day out.

A family business with clearly defined roles

With the arrival of Wouter, Jeroen and Bas in the family business, three Hilvers brothers are now at the helm of the Arnhem bakery for the third time in a row. However, it was by no means a foregone conclusion that the three brothers would run the family business alongside their parents. They initially went their separate ways, but subsequently made a conscious decision to join the bakery.

Each of them now has their own role. Wouter focuses on sales and marketing, Bas is responsible for production, and Jeroen handles finance and logistics. This division of responsibilities suits the business well. “We complement each other perfectly,” says Jeroen. Their mother, Mieke, handles human resources. Their father, André, can be found in the bakery, contributes ideas on technology and maintenance, and advises and supports his sons in their entrepreneurial endeavours.

An Arnhem-based company for the long term

The bakery on Blankenweg, where the company has been based since 1993, has now become too small. There is also insufficient space to make the business more sustainable, as the family wishes. That is why Bakker Hilvers is working on a new bakery in Duiven. “That wasn’t an easy decision,” says Jeroen. “We have a very strong bond with Arnhem. Nevertheless, this step is necessary to prepare the business for the future.”

The shops will remain in Arnhem. And it is precisely there, in the neighbourhoods, that the family believes Arnhem’s identity remains most visible. Wouter: “That’s where staff know their customers. That’s where people have a chat. And that’s where the bakery is sometimes one of the few places where people really feel seen.”

Social impact as a core value

The Lifeport Pearl is not just about entrepreneurship or growth. Bakker Hilvers stands out above all for the social role the company plays.

This commitment has long been part of the company’s ethos. Sharing bread runs in the Hilvers family’s blood. A key example is Hilvers Social. This social bakery provides a place where people who need a little extra support can work and learn. Among other things, they make biscuits, pastries and ‘Arnhemse Meisjes’. Mentors help them master the art of baking.

For Jeroen, that social aspect is no afterthought. “You can make such a huge impact by showing genuine care and respect for someone. No amount of money can match that.” People who, elsewhere, were mainly seen as having a disability, become part of the team at Hilvers. “Here, you’re part of the family,” he says. “And that really helps people flourish.”

According to Wouter, this social sustainability is perhaps even more challenging than achieving sustainability through technology. “Anyone can install solar panels or replace machinery. But continuing to focus on people, even when things get busy, requires daily commitment. Yet that is precisely what we want to stand for.”

The family also has a simple message for other entrepreneurs who want to run their businesses in a more socially responsible way: start small. “Talk to companies that are already working inclusively. See how they do it. And don’t let assumptions about costs or risks hold you back,” say the brothers.

More sustainable baking

As well as social impact, Bakker Hilvers is working on sustainability. “That starts with the raw materials,” explains Wouter. “For the past few years, we’ve been using Nedertarwe, grain grown on Dutch fields. It’s more expensive, but it fits in with our desire to work more consciously and reduce transport distances.”

The biggest step towards sustainability is set to come with the new bakery. There, Bakker Hilvers aims to combine various technologies. These include hybrid ovens designed for hydrogen, electric support, CO₂ cooling, batteries, solar panels and heat recovery. “We’re also looking into vacuum technology, which reduces baking time and allows us to save up to thirty per cent on energy in the ovens.”

Their ambition extends even further than simply saving energy. The family dreams of a bakery that can feed the heat generated during the baking process back into nearby buildings or homes. In this way, a place where bread is baked can also contribute to the neighbourhood’s energy supply.

Strong in the region

Bakker Hilvers feels a strong connection to Arnhem and the surrounding area. The company has branches in various neighbourhoods and supplies local partners and institutions. Wherever possible, Hilvers chooses to do business within the region.

“That collaboration goes beyond simply delivering bread,” explains Jeroen. “We want to be a partner to our customers. We want to contribute ideas, help out when things go wrong and work together on local initiatives. This creates a network in which businesses make each other stronger.”

Die regionale rol past bij de Lifeport Parel. The Economic Board zet met deze erkenning bedrijven in het licht die laten zien hoe ondernemerschap kan bijdragen aan brede welvaart in de regio. Bakker Hilvers doet dat op een herkenbare manier: met werk, brood, aandacht, duurzame keuzes en een sterke band met mensen.

Recognition for the whole team

Voor Wouter en Jeroen Hilvers is de Lifeport Parel vooral een aanmoediging. Ze doen hun werk niet om prijzen te winnen, maar waarderen het dat hun inzet wordt gezien.

“It motivates us to keep going,” says Jeroen. He hopes that the attention will also inspire other entrepreneurs. What are they most proud of? Wouter: “That, despite the challenges in the bakery sector, the company continues to prioritise making an impact. For people. For the region. And for good bread. I hope we can keep this up for the rest of our lives and that, for Bakker Hilvers, making money will always take a back seat to ensuring our people continue to thrive.”