Johan Jansen (33) is the owner of Special Plant Zundert & Tea by Me. Together with his team he offers an experience: enjoy special plants. Johan found out he did not want to take over his family's business. Yet he became an entrepreneur and is devoted to the production of ‘healthy Red Bull’: green tea.
What kind of family did you grow up in?
"I am from a true family of farmers. Together with my uncle, my parents owned a large tomato plantation. I grew up there and helped out with the work. It was the place where I learned to come up with creative solutions to even the most impossible jobs. I grew up with the idea of taking over the family business one day.”
"I am from a true family of farmers. Together with my uncle, my parents owned a large tomato plantation. I grew up there and helped out with the work. It was the place where I learned to come up with creative solutions to even the most impossible jobs. I grew up with the idea of taking over the family business one day.”
Tea by Me got nearly 300,000 euros in the past months using crowdfunding.
What are your ambitions?
“This year we make it possible for everyone in the Netherlands to drink Dutch tea. I want to start off well with Tea by Me here first, after which I will take the next steps in Denmark, Jersey, France and Canada. I usually look at my company like a table. First I make sure I have planted my table firmly in the Netherlands, set the plates and that it's ready to be eaten at. Then I will start setting the tables in other countries. I do sometimes place the table there already, or place it in a different spot. But setting it will come later. My ambition is to get Europe hooked on locally produced tea.”
“This year we make it possible for everyone in the Netherlands to drink Dutch tea. I want to start off well with Tea by Me here first, after which I will take the next steps in Denmark, Jersey, France and Canada. I usually look at my company like a table. First I make sure I have planted my table firmly in the Netherlands, set the plates and that it's ready to be eaten at. Then I will start setting the tables in other countries. I do sometimes place the table there already, or place it in a different spot. But setting it will come later. My ambition is to get Europe hooked on locally produced tea.”
Read the full article here (in Dutch).