Our history

Afamily business

Jan Zandbergen has been active in the food sector since the ’50s. Founder Jan Zandbergen opened his first butcher shop in Leiden in 1955, gradually expanding to a total of 18 establishments. Zandbergen also opened a cutting plant and started to work as a purchasing agent for third parties. The latter activities would eventually develop into the firm’s core business. In 1992, the company moved its headquarters to Veenendaal in the heart of the Dutch Food Valley. With his engaging personality, commitment and business acumen, Jan Zandbergen continued to build the organization, laying the groundwork for its development into the global player it is today.

In 1995, Jan Zandbergen handed over the reins to the next generation. The organization increasingly shifted its focus from trading activities to business partnerships. In recent years, the company has managed to successfully capitalize on changes in the market – working to create added value via extra services, an expanded product range that includes hybrid and plant-based products, new product and marketing concepts, product development and tailored solutions for its partners.

In 2015, Jan Zandbergen added Diviande to its roster, a company that specializes in the portioning and packaging of meat products. In 2019, it established the Future Food Group, which focuses on the development and production of plant-based products. Together, these three companies form the Jan Zandbergen Group, Innovation that Matters.

Zandbergenthrough the years

1955

1978

1992

1995

2006

2007

2012

2015

2018

2019

2020

2021

2023

Jan Zandbergen - history - butchery shop Leiden 1956

Opening of Jan Zandbergen’s first butcher shop in Leiden

Production of producer goods for industrial clients

Opening of our commercial office in Veenendaal

Company acquisition 2nd generation

Joining 3rd generation

Start import poultry

Start import grain-fed beef

Fully automated cold store taken into operation

Integration MHP cutting plant

Acquisition of Diviande in Twello

Start sponsorship of the Black Jaguar Foundation

Opening production location Diviande in Veenendaal

Establishment of the ‘Future Food Group’

Start consumer webshop 'The Meatlovers'

Repositioning as ‘Jan Zandbergen Group, Innovation that Matters’

Start construction new head office and innovation center

Opening "Innovation Center"

Peter-Paul Zandbergen

CEO

“As CEO, I am proud of our high standards of quality and our commitment to sustainability and development. Our team combines innovation with traditional methods to deliver healthy, nutritious, and responsibly produced products. I look forward to continuing this journey together with you.”

Jochem Versloot

Managing Director

“It’s beautiful to see what we have achieved as a company over the years. By applying innovative techniques and processes, we strive to optimize production without compromising quality. Together with our dedicated team, we remain committed to a future where we can support both our customers and the world.”

Laurens Zandbergen

Manager Marketing & Business Development

“From a Marketing and Business Development perspective, I like to look at how and with what we can best respond to the latest trends and developments in the market. Thanks to the various facets and short lines in our family business, we can work decisively and purposefully.”

Our value

Innovation that matters

At Jan Zandbergen, we highly value integrity, collaboration, and innovation. As a true family business, we strongly believe in teamwork. Our success stems from our open communication, honest practices, and our continuous quest for innovation. Our concepts and innovative solutions arise from an integral relationship and a broad international network that we greatly appreciate. We involve the customer in a transparent and productive phase, where we jointly develop creative ideas and eventually transform them into meaningful products.

Our vision

Building an innovative future

Our ambition is to maintain our position as the European market leader and expand our influence worldwide. We aim to be the number one international supplier of both meat and meat alternatives, focusing on sustainability and innovation. In addition to expanding our reach, we strive to further extend our product offerings. Delivering high quality, being a reliable partner, and contributing to a responsible food industry are our priorities. With our extensive expertise, from production to packaging, under the management of Jan Zandbergen, Diviande, and Future Food Group, we form the Jan Zandbergen Group, of which we are immensely proud.

Our mission

We once started with a simple demand and supply: selling meat to meat lovers. Over the years, our mission has evolved further, and we have grown into a market leader in both the meat and meat alternatives market. Our goal is to deliver a wide range of raw materials, producer goods, products, and concepts in the area of meat, poultry, and meat alternatives. With our team of over 300 employees, we strive for a sustainable world in which we take responsibility for people, animals, and the environment through our CSR concept.