Euro Feed Services is one of the leading salmon oil suppliers to the feed industry in Western Europe. E.F.S has made it their mission to increase the value of compound feed in sustainable food production and livestock farming. It does this by innovating and combining their experience, research and expertise to produce value added raw materials. With their own storage facilities and short lines of communication between E.F.S., logistics and the customer, they ensure fast and professional delivery. Recently, Grain Feed & Milling Magazine (GFMM) spoke to Mr. Bert van Bremen, General Manager of E.F.S Holland
. The magnetic part of his speech is presented to the readers of GFMM.
Grain Feed & Milling Magazine (GFMM): What kind of product/Technology do you produce?
Mr. Bert van Bremen: Since 1996 E.F.S. has been supplying and developing innovative health promoting and decontamination products and solutions for the international feed sector. Through a high quality, the strength of nature and our expertise, we create the highest possible yield from raw materials in cooperation with our customers. This makes us E.F.S.!
GFMM: How did you get yourself involved with this business?
Mr. Bert van: After my study in animal nutrition, I worked for a trading company for feed additives and feed raw materials. In 1996 me and Cees Twint decided to establish our own business - Euro Feed Services Holland. We had been working in the feed industry for many years and decided it was time to take our expertise and knowledge to the next level. After a successful partnership we parted ways in 2009. Cees started working with Phileo-LeSaffre and I took over all E.F.S. shares. We still see each other on a regular basis. E.F.S. keeps developing continuously. As a result of consistent innovation, our position at the forefront of the market and building an extensive network, we have become a trusted partner to many relations. E.F.S. specialises in two fields: 1: Health promoting products, additives and raw materials for compound feeds and 2: bacteriological control of raw materials and compound feeds. By developing our own products and concepts and close cooperation with customers and other partners we contribute to a sustainable sector and strive to ensure continuity. Our professional and energetic team is available on a daily basis to serve our clients to the best of its ability. In 1996 we started our deliveries, then only in the Netherlands. Today we do business with companies in more than 30 countries all over the world.
GFMM: Will you say something about your business start-up?
Mr. Bert van: Euro Feed Services Holland was established in 1996 by Cees Twint and Bert van Bremen. Both had been working in the feed industry for many years and decided it was time to take their expertise and knowledge to the next level. After a successful partnership they parted ways in 2009. Cees started working with Phileo-LeSaffre and Bert took over all E.F.S. shares. They still see each other on a regular basis. E.F.S. keeps developing continuously. As a result of consistent innovation, our position at the forefront of the market and building an extensive network, we have become a trusted partner to many relations
GFMM: Tell us about the current status or range of your business and company.
Mr. Bert van: By developing our own products and concepts and close cooperation with customers and other partners we contribute to a sustainable sector and strive to ensure continuity. Our professional and energetic team of 16 employees is available daily to serve our clients to the best of their ability. In 1996 we started our deliveries, then only in the Netherlands. Today we do business with companies in more than 30 countries all over the world. So E.F.S. has experience in exporting products all over the world. By participating actively in various interest groups, seminars and trade fairs we have a proactive presence in a dynamic, ever-changing market.
GFMM: Tell us about the quality of your product. Why buyer will buy it from ten people’s product?
Mr. Bert van: E.F.S collaborates with leading research institutes to test and continuously develop its own products. This scientific knowledge helps E.F.S. to work solution oriented. Thus, in close cooperation with the customer, we strive to find a mutually beneficial solution.
GFMM: Compare your industry/company with respect or the top class to the world market.
Mr. Bert van: Working so closely alongside leading research institutes allows us to continuously build our knowledge base leading to an environment where innovation can thrive. We are always developing, looking for new ideas.
GFMM: Tell me if you have any problems or challenges with this business.
Mr. Bert van: The international feed industry is one that is forever progressing, this means that new scientific discoveries are made daily. A strong scientific foundation helps but you need to be consistently up to date with the latest findings. The international feed business is also exactly that, international. This brings the challenge of navigating each countries regulatory systems.
GFMM: How did you deal or overcome these problems / challenges?
Mr. Bert van: Through collaboration we can all put our minds together to solve any common challenges or problems.
GFMM: Will you say about your management style?
Mr. Bert van: We are a small team with a flat structure almost no hierarchy. This means that most decisions are made together as a team. Everyone gets the opportunity to express their opinion. We maintain a friendly, familiar and positive atmosphere. To strengthen team cohesion, our yearly excursion with the whole team to a Christmas party is always on the agenda.
GFMM: Say on your service categories.
Mr. Bert van: E.F.S. specializes in two fields: 1: Health promoting products, additives and raw materials for compound feeds and 2: bacteriological control of raw materials and compound feeds.
If a feed producer has bought a product from us, we are still there to help and advise him afterwards. This means that we are available to answer all technical and nutritional questions to the best of our knowledge.
For bacteriological control during the production process, the E.F.S. service team installs a dosing unit at the most suitable point in the production process. E.F.S. supplies decontaminating products based on organic acids.
Macht das Sinn für Asien??
GFMM: Tell me about your staffs or manpower education and experiences.
Mr. Bert van: Our team consists of young people and experienced people in the field of animal nutrition. The young people bring scientifically based knowledge about animal nutrition from their studies. The experienced people bring market knowledge and know what relevant topics for feed producers are. In a close cooperation of the whole team, this knowledge complements each other perfectly.
GFMM: Will you say about your significant achievement so far?
Mr. Bert van: That is a difficult question as each client that we help towards their goal is a significant achievement. We are proud to say that our team and facilities are expanding.
GFMM: What was the main force or power behind it?
Mr. Bert van: Our team. The force behind E.F.S is our team of professionals; this is not limited to the science behind our products and services but through-out all departments of the business.
GFMM: Will you say about your future plan?
Mr. Bert van: Our plan is to expand our knowledge. We would like to build long-term cooperation with reliable partners in Asia and the whole world.
GFMM: Say something about yourself as a human, as a successful industrialist.
Mr. Bert van: I will keep learning until the day I die…
GFMM: What are the essential qualities of a good industrialist?
Mr. Bert van: The most important thing is to love what you do. Only in this way is it possible to really get involved in the respective activity. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur you need a lot of patience and staying power to overcome failures and setbacks. Furthermore successful entrepreneurs are equally creative in finding new approaches to old familiar problems. With a creative mindset, entrepreneurs set themselves apart from other competitors. A successful entrepreneur does not have to know or be able to do everything. However, he should know who knows or can do certain things. A good network and numerous contacts are standard equipment for every entrepreneur. In this way, they always find ways and means to reach their goal and be particularly successful.
GFMM: Do you want to say something to your customers?
Mr. Bert van: Our customers all share our mission to provide and improve on quality produce to meet ever-growing demands.
GFMM: How is European market compared to the developed world in this sector?
Mr. Bert van: The European market is characterized by high-quality products due to high quality and production standards.
GFMM: What will it take for such industries to be fully developed in European Countries?
Mr. Bert van: I believe that the industry will never truly be developed as new scientific findings are being discovered daily. However, in saying that there are a few traits that come to mind, namely: • Consistency • Quality • Honesty • Knowledge-driven
GFMM: Say something about Europe beyond your business.
Mr. Bert van: In today’s time there is no such thing as an isolated event, what happens beyond your borders will affect your business and you need to adapt accordingly. I feel this is particularly the case in Europe.
GFMM: Has your business expanded to Asian countries? Or do you have any plans to expand your business in the Asian market?
Mr. Bert van: E.F.S. exports its products to more than 30 countries all over the world. We have business relations in the Philippines and India as well as a dedicated employee based in China. We are always searching for suitable business partners in Asia and to build up long-term relationships.
GFMM: Thank you on behalf of ‘Grain Feed & Milling Magazine’.
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