New Modern Cultivation Facility Enhances Efficiency and Sustainability
Van der Plas Sprouts, a leading producer based in Broek op Langedijk, has significantly expanded its growing capacity by renovating and modernizing a newly acquired building. This investment has doubled their cultivation space, enabling them to meet the increasing demand for their popular sprouts varieties such as Pea Asparagus, Greenpeez, and Sunflowers.
Robbie Stoker, who has been with Van der Plas Sprouts for twenty years, highlighted the importance of this expansion. “It was really a long time of making do with the sprouts we had. A nice bonus is that we were able to purchase a building from our neighbors. On our courtyard, we created the possibility to also enter that building, so we can keep everything on the same site. The cultivation techniques have not been renewed, only in terms of sustainability have we of course been active. For example, we are no longer dependent on gas by using heat pumps and the whole building is equipped with LED lighting.”
The new facility not only increases capacity but also boosts efficiency. The well-coordinated cultivation team, who have been working together for a long time, can now maximize their production capabilities. The integration of the new space within the existing site allows for better organization and waste processing, further enhancing operational efficiency. “By using the right materials and amenities for the staff, we meet the most recent quality standards, and this also applies to food safety,” added Robbie.
Sales at Van der Plas Sprouts have shown growth across their entire product range, with the Netherlands and Germany being their largest markets. Their products also reach various parts of Europe and the United Arab Emirates, focusing primarily on retail and catering sectors. The company has also seen significant growth in the organic sector, which underscored the necessity of expanding their cultivation capacity.
“The trend is that people are looking for healthy food themselves, and then sprouts naturally come to the fore. The catering industry continues to innovate, and our products are also perfectly suited for that. Our sprouts also do very well among vegetarians, because our sprouts are very rich in protein and the catering industry is putting more and more vegetarian dishes on the menu,” concluded Robbie.
