Cornelis Vrolijk joins Krijn Verwijs as strategic partner

Two family-owned Dutch seafood businesses have signed a letter of intent, with Cornelis Vrolijk taking a participating interest in the seafood and shellfish activities of Krijn Verwijs. The family firms are joining forces in order to supply healthy, reliable and responsible products from the sea to European consumers, ‘from ship to shelf’. This partnership will generate economies of scale and enable the companies to achieve their aim of growing their share of the fish segment.

Both Cornelis Vrolijk and Krijn Verwijs aim to play a directing role within the fish segment. Thanks to their decades of experience in the sector, they can help fill fish counters with healthy products. Innovations, such as ready-to-eat mussels, prawns machine shelled in the Netherlands and a rich offering of fish varieties make up a fresh and varied portfolio. The products are sustainably fished and cultivated, with both firms constantly looking for improvements in terms of CO2 reductions and circularity.

“With Cornelis Vrolijk as a complementary partner, we are joining forces and adding value to our business. This will improve our regional and international position, strengthen our product portfolio and intensify our innovation pathways as well our role within the protein transition”, explains Caroline Verwijs, director of Krijn Verwijs Yerseke. “We will remain Krijn Verwijs, a family firm dedicated to the shellfish sector and emphasising the importance of a healthy mussel and oyster sector in the Netherlands. We will also retain our Premier brand and slogan, ‘Seafarmers by Nature,’ under which we sell our products”.

Annerieke Vrolijk, managing director of Cornelis Vrolijk: “In Krijn Verwijs, we have found a partner which, like us, places great store by family values such as expertise, trust, loyalty and sustainable relationships.” Moreover, the Yerseke-based company’s strategy seamlessly fits with Cornelis Vrolijk’s from ship to shelf approach.

The 50-50 joint venture aims to strengthen the chain and establish a joint sales strategy in fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Both companies expect to achieve their growth targets for the coming years through this partnership. In doing so, sustainable and intensive relationships with growers, continuance of the family business and ensuring food security are all key.

Source: https://www.cornelisvrolijk.eu/news/cornelis-vrolijk-joins-krijn-verwijs-as-strategic-partner/