Royal Berry is a strawberry nursery located in Bemmel since 2009. Since then, the company has grown considerably. Alderman Nick Hubers of the Municipality of Lingewaard explains why Royal Berry was chosen for the award. "Royal Berry is a driven company. The company works daily with passion and care to create a healthy working environment and, of course, the perfect strawberry. Distinguishing factors are the number of employees and the production volume. Royal Berry makes a major contribution to the Dutch horticultural and food industry with innovative solutions to societal challenges. Knowledge institutions such as Wageningen University, like to work with the company for that reason."
Growing like cabbage
Although Royal Berry is currently a major player in the region, the company’s roots are humble. “When I was seventeen, I started growing strawberries on a very small scale,” says van Genderen. “I was working with just 0.4 hectares. Once I’d outgrown that site, it was time to look to the future. In 2009, I had the opportunity to sell the old site and move to this area. That turned out to be a brilliant decision. Here, there was space, local backing and support from the region. The location is simply perfect!” In the meantime, those 0.4 hectares have expanded to 47 hectares of greenhouse space, where over 300 employees produce around 8 million kilos of strawberries every year.
Focus on sustainability
Van Genderen explains that, at every stage of the growth process, Royal Berry seeks the most sustainable option that is feasible. “We’ve always been willing to do things differently, and not just act out of self-interest. It all has to benefit the local community.” For instance, the company generates as much of its own energy as possible. “We generate much of our energy using solar panels. We feed surplus energy back into the grid for regional businesses. We also use LED lighting in the greenhouses, which saves around 50 per cent in energy compared to traditional lighting.” Van Genderen explains how his company also seeks out solutions that are less obvious. “We’re currently building a residential estate near our greenhouses. This will allow us to provide accommodation for international staff without putting pressure on the regional housing market. Sustainability is important here too. Staff can cycle to work, which reduces emissions. What’s more, we’re creating new green spaces within the residential estate and laying out footpaths. In this way, we’re trying to give back to the local community in all sorts of ways.”
Satisfied employees, satisfied customers
“You could say we’re a bit mad about strawberries. We’re simply very enthusiastic about the product and want to contribute to people’s health and offer them a little bit of happiness, however small that may be. When we see our customers enjoying themselves, that spurs us on too.” That feeling is something Jan wants to share with every member of staff. “We believe that everyone wants to be part of a winning team. If you have happy staff, that benefits the product too. That’s how you end up in a virtuous circle. It gives you the energy to excel at what you do: the higher you climb the mountain, the more beautiful the view becomes.”Apetrots
“The award is a lovely cherry on top of the strawberry cake. It confirms that we’re on the right track. That’s great for our staff, but it also sends a positive message to the wider community. I hope it inspires other companies. There are many companies doing truly wonderful things. Perhaps we’re a bit too modest about that here in the Netherlands. It’s good to show what we can achieve together and to be proud of it. If we nurture that innovation, it will provide the energy for a sustainable future.”
