Vreugdenhil positive about recruiting farmers across the border

Besten: "For the time being, we are focusing on dairy farmers in the province of Antwerp. That is just across the border and it fits in well with the region in North Brabant, where we are already fully active."

It is sometimes said that you need to employ a Belgian to recruit Belgian dairy farmers. How do you experience that?
"If you become active further down the road in Belgium, that may apply, but not in the region where we are currently active. Culturally, it is so close to Brabant that we do not notice any obstacles there. We experience good interest and serious discussions. "

Have livestock farmers already been contracted? And what is the objective?
"We are still in full discussions with dairy farmers. We expect to conclude the first agreements soon, but we have also only recently started recruiting. For some dairy farmers, October 1 is the deadline for cancellation to take effect on January 1 to be able to supply, but that also applies in the Netherlands. The objective is to gradually build up to 100 million kilos in Belgium within a few years."

You have already been very successful in the South of the Netherlands, especially Brabant. What causes that?
"We are close to the dairy farmers, the relationship is important to us: short lines and a practical attitude. That of course includes a good milk price. We often hear that everything is so simple and approachable with us. No complicated stories and procedures. Many farmers who switch to us have already decided much earlier in their minds to leave their existing processor. For them, it is then only a matter of choosing where to go. That choice often turns out to be in our direction. Last year we more than 100 million kilos of extra milk has been accepted, this year we will accept an additional 50 to 100 million kilos in the Netherlands. There is plenty of interest. New dairy farmers from the Netherlands and Belgium remain welcome."