Over ons - van Leeuwen Kipspecialiteiten

‘’As a truck driver, you are a representative of the company.’’

Joey Muskens

Truck driver

Meet some team members

A FAMILY BUSINESS

At Van Leeuwen Kipspecialiteiten, we take pride in our satisfied employees and customers. Offering constant high product quality as well as high flexibility, we meet our customers’ needs.

What our employees say…

Expertise & Pride

Joey Muskens

Truck driver

“I am driven by passion. It feels great to deliver our products to our customers and to think along with them. My truck is always clean and tidy. To me, that’s important and it makes me proud.”

Martijn

Sales manager

“Products are super fresh, everything is possible, and a deal is a deal!”

Casper

Logistics employee

“I maintain contact with our transporters in England and Ireland. Shipping documents, production labels, planning, everything must be in order. In the afternoon, I help loading the trucks, meanwhile - to be completely sure - counting the pallets.”

Bilal

Production supervisor

“A proper allocation of duties ensures happy people, as well as fast and efficient production.”

Karima

Quality employee and assistant to production supervisor

“Our quality controls always pass audits with flying colors.”

Ilona

General

“Certified products, high quality, flexibility, and a passionate team. It makes me proud.”

About us

Our history

At Van Leeuwen Kipspecialiteiten, we take pride in our satisfied employees and customers. Offering constant high product quality as well as high flexibility, we meet our customers’ needs.

Hatchlings

It all started in 1957, when Thomas van Leeuwen began fattening hatchlings. Activities expanded to the sale of slaughtered hatchlings and frozen packages. When production and sale of fresh chicken products increased as well, in 1975, Van Leeuwen focused completely on processing fresh chicken products, leading to a full range for delivery to own shops, various butches, and supermarkets.

Chicken fillets

In 1993, the company was taken over by Thomas’ son and current managing director, Cees van Leeuwen. Specialising the company in processing chicken fillets, daily, a small team processed the products at a cutting table. Customers included large Dutch retail organisations. In addition, exports to Germany, Belgium, Denmark, England, and Ireland started.

New business premises

The company outgrew its premises and moved to new business premises on the Broekweg business park in Wijk bij Duurstede in 2009. In 2018, a new building was opened for outgoing goods.

Innovation and optimalisation

To optimise efficiency, investments have been made in acquiring a new order processing system. This allows products to be accurately sorted and packed per portion, depending on the customer’s requirements. In the coming years, we will focus on further process digitisation. To continue innovation, we constantly invest in research and training.

Sustainable

Our CO2 transcritical cooling installation guarantees environmentally friendly cooling. In addition, with our solar panels generating about 60% of our consumption, we consciously contribute to sustainability.

Striving to be the best

It’s not about being the biggest, it’s about being the best. By offering high-quality products, specialisation, flexibility, and service, Van Leeuwen Kipspecialiteiten adds value to the products. Satisfied customers as well as employees, providing high quality and striving for continuous development. That’s what we stand for.

Cees van Leeuwen

owner and managing director

“At the age of 15, I helped my father in our backyard. Products sold well, due to high quality. Nowadays, we produce 300,000 kg fillet products per week. However, quality and craftsmanship are still top priorities.”

Joey Muskens

Truck driver

Nothing gives Joey more joy than driving his truck. His truck, which is always looking tiptop. In his eyes, it’s only natural to help colleagues and to think along with customers.

In short: a real company man.

Already cleaning cars at Van Leeuwen Kipspecialiteiten at the age of 13, now, Joey has made quite a few truck rides, nationally and internationally. “Bringing our high-quality products to our customers makes me proud.”

Business card
Being a truck driver, it’s important to make a good impression, he says. “After all, I am a sort of ‘business card’ of the company. That’s why I always make sure that my truck is clean and tidy.” He has an excellent relationship with the customers, who appreciate his service level: “I think it’s only natural to help each other and to think along. I always try to determine in which cold storage room a specific customer would want which products and what would be a convenient way for them to unload.”

Opportunities
Joey appreciates the opportunities the company is giving him. To enable him combining his school education with practical training, managing director Cees van Leeuwen even applied for certification as a recognized training company.

“It makes me want to help wherever I can, if needed cleaning the truck in the weekend. After all, it’s teamwork.”

Martijn

Sales manager

Satisfied customers. It’s his ultimate goal. Sales manager Martijn enjoys the diversity and complexity of his profession.

“Fresh products need to be purchased, processed and delivered at a rapid pace. A nice challenge, every single day.”

Maintaining close contact with both supplier and customer, Martijn knows how to bring together supply and demand. In addition, he sets clear goals, and is closely involved in management.

Everything is possible
As customers are very diverse, so are their specific needs and requirements. Van Leeuwen Kipspecialiteiten is happy to meet those needs. Chicken breast fillets, calibrated on the production line, wings, drumsticks, and bolts, in 10 kg bulk, 4 x 2 kg en 2 x 20 Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), it is all part of the product range.

Apart from the extended product range, there is room for even more flexibility. “Everything is possible. We like to help. For instance, if an order arrives too late, when everything has already been purchased and planned, and the routes are fixed, we will still do our utmost to deliver the order in time. Which almost always succeeds!”

Helping out
Also, nothing is too much for Martijn personally. Having this powerful drive, he happily helps out wherever he can. To prepare the freight, as a truck driver, or with the administration. “No problem at all. It’s a team effort!”

Casper

Logistics employee

A control freak. That’s what he calls himself. Everything has to be right, everything has to be in order and neat. No bending the rules, no slacking. Check, check, double check!

He likes to be busy all the time, and fortunately, there is always something to do at Van Leeuwen. Casper is responsible for external transport and preparatory work on production, like preparing production labels and shipping documents, as well as planning transport to England and Ireland. On top of it, he makes sure that transporters know which orders are ready to collect. In short: he emails, calls, and arranges, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

Check, check, double check!
In the afternoon, Casper loads the (clean) trucks and checks whether the number of pallets and boxes corresponds to the consignment note and the agreements made. In addition, he checks the temperature in the trucks: the cooling motors must ensure that the products remain cool during transport. “Checking and counting, that’s what I do. Only when everything is right and neat, the truck can leave, and I will send the customer a consignment note as a confirmation of delivery.”

Just like family
He likes his work and simply loves his colleagues. “I really like my job, don’t want to leave. The team atmosphere is great. We are very close, just like a big family. We make jokes, have a sandwich together and help each other.”

Bilal

Production supervisor

“A proper allocation of duties ensures happy people, as well as fast and efficient production.”

Bilal does not just inform management how many people are needed, he also knows exactly which job fits a specific person. “I analyze people. Skills, education, age, specific needs, all of it is important for a good match. Both for the employees and for the company.”

Polyglot
Once new employees have been positioned, Bilal is responsible for their onboarding and training. Apart from knowing all the tasks inside out, he also speaks numerous languages, like Dutch, Polish, Arabic, and English. It enables him to make a chat and explain the tasks in the employee’s native language.

Working together
He likes it here, at Van Leeuwen. “I really enjoy working here, as well as the people I work with. We work hard, but sometimes we even sing and dance! A fantastic atmosphere. Just as great is everyone’s willingness to help each other and work together. As managing director, Cees sets a good example: always willing to help and assist. Respect!”

Karima

Quality employee and assistant to the Production supervisor

“It is important to continuously monitor quality. This way we can respond directly to imperfections and guarantee the best product to our customers.”

She once started as a packer, but has had the opportunity to grow. It makes her proud, she says. “I now see Cees van Leeuwen as my second father, the company as my second home. Honestly. I like the job, I get opportunities, and Cees is a good employer. He helps, asks, listens, understands. Nothing is too much. He is always sweet, always friendly. That makes me extra motivated. And my colleagues? All of them very nice!”

During audits, Karima confidently shows the carefully recorded quality measurements. After all, she performs gas measurements, metal detection, and temperature measurements three times a day.

Ilona

General

Figures have no secrets for Ilona. She analyzes income and expenses, examens statistics, and reports KPIs. Being a business expert, she explicitly gives advice on innovation as well as optimalization of business and production processes. On top of it, she is always there to help others, nothing is too much for her.

Ilona, daughter of owner and managing director Cees van Leeuwen, was brought up on being enterprising and is very committed to further improvements and automation. Still, at the end of each day, you will find her at the outgoing expedition department, helping loading the trucks.

“We have long-term relationships with all customers, who are satisfied with our quality, flexibility, and personal contacts. From A to Z, our team delivers!”

A satisfied customer starts with a satisfied employee
“A satisfied customer starts with a satisfied employee. Our team consists of enthusiastic, passionate people, who go for it. Together. We all help each other. And work on odd hours, if needed. On top of it, we have a lot of fun. We are growing together, step by step. It really brings me so much energy.”

Contact

Have any questions, comments or want to get in touch with us?
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.