Magazine website - Aartsen - 2023

FRESH SPECIAL
INTERVIEW
Marcel Hendriks (49)
He has been working for
Aartsen for 8.5 years. In
addition to Aartsen's financial
ins and outs, as CFO, he is also
responsible for the IT policy.
Fresh | "One of the first significant assignments
I faced at Aartsen 8.5 years ago was implementing
a new ERP system. We initially opted to introduce
a standard application, as has been done by many
companies in our industry. However, extensive
internal research showed that this solution would
not suffice for Aartsen. Our working method differs
too much from what a standard application
could offer. We have set up our processes very
differently, so we had to look for a system based
on customization. We, therefore, started from
scratch on a Thinkwise low-code platform with
the development of our own Fresh."
Team spirit | "Our project group proudly built the system itself in four
years with help from our IT partner Thinkwise. The system is innovative
and a great example of our team spirit. Everyone had to pick up extra work
because our main focus was developing Fresh, transiting to an entirely new
system required much effort. It feels like we've all been reset and rewired."
FreshAsia | "In 2023, we'll continue to develop Fresh in the Benelux,
while Fresh Asia will also be launched. My main priority is to find and keep
the right individuals to realize these tremendous ambitions. It all starts with
the people you work with."
Dates | "Fresh also enables us to collect the data that optimize
the processes at Aartsen. The next step is expanding our business
intelligence tools, increasing effectiveness and efficiency and making
faster and better decisions. We are at the beginning of this journey, but
as far as I am concerned, it's one of our most promising projects to start"
Finance | "Our organization is covered against problems, but many
other industry companies face difficult times. Apart from the high energy
prices and the substantial indexation of wages due to new collective
labour agreements, suppliers and customers of Aartsen are confronted
with rapidly increasing general costs, which can't always be incorporated
into the prices of our products. Entrepreneurs in the Netherlands, Belgium
and Germany will have a challenging time."
Jasper van der Sandt (32)
As a Small Business & Retail
Management student, Jasper
van der Sandt joined Aartsen
as an intern. Since January 1,
he has been our company's
Operational Director/COO
and co-shareholder.
"I was taught everything about the fruit and vegetable trade at home. My
father has been active in the sector and my mother is Jack's sister. I visited
this company regularly as a kid and it was always part of discussion when we
were together with the family. I never thought I would come and work here."
Trainee | "During a Christmas family dinner, I still hadn't found an
internship, and luckily uncle Jack invited me for an interview the following
Monday morning. Since then, I have always worked with Aartsen. First in
commercial positions: overseeing imports from Spain. Later, I became
a member of the commercial management and in recent years I have
mainly been involved in supervising overseas imports."
Fresh | "I was closely involved in the development of Fresh. It is one of
the most important developments within Aartsen. The innovations and
expansions we implement must keep up with the doubling turnover and
caring for our personnel."
People | "As a management team member, it's my responsibility to keep
the company operating in all its departments. By further growing our
Human Resources department, we can continue putting our staff first.
Every person here is part of the engine of our company."
Family trait | "We invest in people at Aartsen and often train them
ourselves so they can continually advance in their careers. For myself?
I have always had the ambition to end up in this position, and everyone
knows I worked hard to get here. I hope that in the coming years, the
work will remain challenging for me [laughs]."
22 | AMBITION AMBITION | 23