After thirty years' experience in the fruit and vegetable trade, working at domestic wholesalers and renowned exporters, Klaas van den Broek chose to start his own business in 2010. After several years with an office at Kempen Transport, in Venlo, Klaas van den Broek BV has moved to the Nedalpac premises. Storage and shipments take place at the nearby Bolts & Lenders. Klaas is now 60, but doesn't want to hear a word about quitting. "If I stay healthy, I will continue for at least five years. What am I supposed to do every day at home? I think the market is much too fun for that!"
Meanwhile, Klaas is teaching his son Jeffrey the tricks of the trade. "A great thing to do, since he is really into trade," says the experienced trader. He is satisfied with his new home. "I have to sit here for many hours a week, so it needs to be nice. I have a small company, but I'm happy with it. Over the past 40 years, I have developed a good network and my customers know that they can do business with Klaas 52 weeks a year."
Klaas is mainly devoted to exporting to Switzerland, Malta and Cyprus. The majority of products shipped are of Dutch origin in the months of March to October, and this is supplemented in the winter months with imports from Egypt, Spain and Italy. "I could export to Germany, but I have no wish to take customers away from others here. Of course we are all competitors, but everyone deserves to earn their living," says Klaas.
Former hockey international
As a former hockey international, he travelled the world. Klaas was even one of the 25 internationals who took part in the Olympic Games in Lake Placid in 1980; the only Olympic tournament in which the Netherlands took part in ice hockey. When Klaas still played ice hockey, his late father-in-law, Frans Verhaaren, asked in 1976 if he wanted to work in Tilburg after his military service in his wholesale and banana ripening company. That is how Klaas entered the fruit and vegetable trade. After his death in 1984, Klaas took sole charge of it; this lasted until 1989, when he entered the export trade.
"The beauty of our business is that no two days are the same. For the exports to Switzerland we work with quotas. This can take a toll on the revenue, but changes appeal to me. My three brothers are hair stylists and they know exactly when the door will close. I always say you are a fruit and vegetable trader from Monday 6 am to Friday 6 pm. I have a positive attitude and get ready every morning with pleasure to go to Venlo and I ride in the afternoon with the same energy back to Tilburg," concludes the trader.
