For over nine years, Taco van der Louw of Up & Up Talent Solutions has been connecting candidates and companies in the fresh produce sector. Recently, he received so many vacancies to fill that he faced a choice: either join a large agency or expand independently. He chose the latter and has now grown his team to five people to take the next step, not just within the Netherlands, but also into the international market.
"There was considerable interest from larger recruitment agencies in the agri and food sector to bring me on board, but in the end, it just didn't feel right. For one, it often means charging higher fees, and I want to keep it affordable and personal. Plus, over the years, I've built a strong network with my brand and name. I want to maintain that level of service, which goes beyond simply filling a vacancy."
As of next month, Up & Up's team will consist of five recruiters. In March, Chris Houbolt, who earned his stripes as Commercial Director at Royal Lemkes, joined as senior recruiter for the fresh produce and ornamental horticulture sectors. A second senior recruiter is on the way, and two junior recruiters have also joined the team, based in both the Netherlands and the UK.
+75 years of experience in fresh produce
"We see great potential in the UK market and aim to serve the rest of Europe from there. The entire fresh produce and ornamental plant trade is interwoven with international trade flows, and we want to reflect that in our recruitment services too," Taco explains. "Over the past few years, I've already been working with recruitment partners in the UK, North America, Canada, Israel, and Germany, and with this team expansion, I want to take that a big step further. In total, we now have over 75 years of combined fresh produce experience—so expertise certainly won't be an issue!"
Taco also plans to focus more on filling Dutch vacancies with international candidates, such as account managers. "I'm convinced they can offer great value to Dutch companies, especially because they understand the customer's language and culture. However, I do consider it essential that these candidates speak fluent English and are willing to learn the Dutch language and culture as well."
Another area Up & Up Talent Solutions aims to grow in is Interim Solutions. "Within the Dutch fresh produce sector, there's still some hesitance when it comes to working with interim professionals, but I believe that's unjustified. There are many advantages for companies. For example, they can bring in an interim manager during illness, peak periods, or seasonal demand. We've built a solid database, and more and more people are attracted to the independence and flexibility this model offers. These temporary managers always have at least 10 years of experience, and this pool continues to grow."
Retaining candidates
Another aspect Taco feels strongly about is employee retention. "It may sound odd coming from a recruiter, but it's the easiest way to meet staffing needs. In our conversations with candidates, we gain deep insight into what they're looking for. So we like to advise companies on this. That's also why I'm starting a course to become an HR Business Partner at Nyenrode. In this sector, where there are many takeovers, companies undergo constant change. That often leads people to leave because they no longer feel at home. We can support companies specifically in this type of change management."
"We're also seeing strong demand from manufacturing companies in places like South America, South Africa, or Egypt, who want to set up sales operations here. We often have a good solution for that kind of need through our interim manager database. In addition to many commercial roles, I've recently filled quite a few management positions. What's also rewarding is working with some companies on a partnership basis. For example, I've been commissioned to build complete retail teams, including assessments and training. We help companies train their people as well. It suits us to provide a broader range of services than just recruitment. Traditional recruiting will always have its place, but we're eager to evolve with the rapidly changing world!"
For more information:
Taco van der Louw
Up & Up
+31 (0)6 53 52 62 46
[email protected]
www.up-up-go.com