{"id":2033,"date":"2024-05-02T06:15:24","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T06:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valstar.com\/our-story\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T07:27:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T07:27:40","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/valstar.com\/en\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Our Story<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 1928, at just eighteen years old, Maart Valstar, encouraged by his father Fulps Vincentinus Valstar, went to have a look at the auction for the first time. Soon after, he started his own business under the name \u201cFa. M. Valstar\u201d, what we now know as Valstar.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Beginning<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hailing from a lineage of market gardeners in Westland, Maart established his presence at the newly established Fruit and Vegetable Auction (Groenten- en Fruitveiling) in Naaldwijk. From there, he expanded his reach, supplying customers across the Netherlands, Germany, and England.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Expansion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You would think everything went well for Maart.. but nothing could be further from the truth. The inexperienced Maart faced some challenges, such as the economic turmoil of the 1930s and the upheaval of World War II, which tested both his business acumen and personal resilience. His brother Cees joined forces with him, leaving behind their father\u2019s garden to support Maart\u2019s endeavours. <\/p>

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Brothers Cees and Maart managed to achieve several successes. Their trade spanned across Europe, reaching as far as Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland, and Belgium. Though there were occasional setbacks, they both remained steadfast. In the DNA of the Valstar family, resilience runs deep; giving up is simply not an option. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"He came up with a solution that led to the <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t involvement of several companies.\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Next Generations of Valstar<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 1952, the torch passed to the next generation as Maart’s son, Ful, joined the company at fifteen years old. He had always helped out during school holidays With twenty-five years of experience, Maart was the ideal mentor for his son. Together with Cees, he taught Ful all the tricks of the trade. Years later, in 1981, it was time for the third generation to enter the business. Mart, Ful\u2019s eldest son, joined the company. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A New Approach<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mart had a fresh new outlook on Valstar and wanted to do things differently. He took over the reins of export and started looking for new customers abroad. Mart managed to double export sales within a year. In 1988 kwam Mart’s broer Kees het bedrijf versterken. He went into sales and this too did not go unnoticed. Kees achieved several successes in Poland and the USA, among others. Through smart management and hard work, the company grew rapidly. After many successful years, Kees decided to go for a new career and left the company. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cEvery threat is an opportunity\u201d<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A statement that came into its own in the late 1990s. Due to a merger of auctions, many trading companies were acquired threatening Valstar\u2019s competitive position. This upheaval rattled the fruit and vegetable sector, but Mart did not sit back. He came up with a solution that led to the involvement of several companies in Valstar Holland. While each company retained its unique expertise, they shared a common focus: cultivation, trading, and logistics. All these companies needed to strengthen one another, that was the goal. This is how Best Fresh Group was formed in 2008. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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WESTLAND<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From Naaldwijk to ‘s-Gravenzande to the Westerlee; over the years, our company has been in many places. 95 years later, Valstar is still located in the Westland, in Poeldijk, one of the largest and most innovative greenhouse clusters in the world. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Embracing the Future<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Meanwhile, the fourth generation of Valstar has entered the company. Mart has three daughters, two of whom have joined the company, Maud and Kris. However, this isn’t the sole recent change Om onze klanten en telers optimaal te blijven bedienen is Valstar sinds 2024 onderdeel van Farmhouse International. This collaboration brings together expertise and supply, creating a distinctive blend of exotic, local, and organic products. In essence, at Valstar, you can find the total product range. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Where it all started...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Fa. M.Valstar is founded in Naaldwijk by Maart Valstar.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Export activities are expanded to other European countries, including Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland and Belgium. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The first major milestone: the company exists for 25 years and exports to 9 European countries. The company rebrands as M.Valstar & Co B.V. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The new auction called \u201cWestland-Zuid\u201d is established in \u2018s-Gravenzande. After 44 years, it is time for the first relocation! <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The start of exports to Japan, America and Eastern Europe, from the new location Westerlee in De Lier. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Valstar continues to grow within global exports, so it is time to relocate again. This time to a location with a large packaging and handling facility at the Agri Business Centre in Poeldijk.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Several companies become involved in Valstar Holland, the \u201cBest Fresh Group\u201d is created.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Opening of our own office in Almer\u00eda: Valstar Spain, enabling direct shipments from our own growers in Spain to our European customers.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Construction of the all-new warehouse. The name changes from Valstar Verpakking Verlading to ABC Logistics. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t2021<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The establishment of Farmhouse International, an international cooperation with and for growers of surprising fruit and vegetables. Farmhouse consists of the following companies: Yex, FV Seleqt, Spot and Avor. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t2024<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Fh_2024\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Valstar will become part of Farmhouse International. The shared expertise and supply enables us to serve our customers and growers even better. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t