Two family-owned businesses in the Dutch seafood sector, each with a history going back to 1880, have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture reinforcing future strategy for both companies
Cornelis Vrolijk is taking a participating interest in the seafood and shellfish activities of Krijn Verwijs. The venture is focused on combining talents and resources in order to supply healthy, reliable and responsible products from the sea to European consumers in a from ‘ship to shelf’ strategy.
This partnership is expected to generate economies of scale and enable the companies to achieve their aim of expanding their share of the seafood sector in which both aspire to play leading roles.
‘With Cornelis Vrolijk as a complementary partner, we are joining forces and adding value to our business. This will improve our regional and international position, strengthen our product portfolio and intensify our innovation pathways as well our role within the protein transition,’ explained Caroline Verwijs, director of Krijn Verwijs Yerseke.
‘We will remain Krijn Verwijs, a family firm dedicated to the shellfish sector and emphasising the importance of a healthy mussel and oyster sector in the Netherlands. We will also retain our Premier brand and slogan, Seafarmers by Nature, under which we sell our products.’
Innovations, such as ready-to-eat mussels, prawns machine shelled in the Netherlands and a rich offering of fish varieties make up a fresh and varied portfolio. Products are sustainably fished and cultivated, with both firms constantly looking for improvements in terms of CO2 reductions and circularity.
‘In Krijn Verwijs, we have found a partner which, like us, places great store by family values such as expertise, trust, loyalty and sustainable relationships,’ said Annerieke Vrolijk, managing director of Cornelis Vrolijk.
The 50-50 joint venture aims to strengthen the chain and establish a joint sales strategy in fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Both companies expect to achieve their growth targets for the coming years through this partnership. In doing so, sustainable and intensive relationships with growers, continuance of the family business and ensuring food security are all key.
