Van der Zee
Van der Zee is a Netherlands-based artisanal meat processor and supplier, founded in 1925, that operates as the exclusive butcher inside all HANOS wholesale locations across the Netherlands and Belgium, serving hospitality professionals and, via Distrivers, hospitals and care institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersEmmen, Netherlands
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Van der Zee does
Van der Zee Vleesgrootverbruik B.V., operating under the trade name Ambachtelijke Slager Van der Zee, is a Netherlands-based artisanal meat processor and supplier founded in 1925 and headquartered in Emmen. The company functions as the exclusive professional butcher inside all HANOS cash-and-carry wholesale locations across the Netherlands (18 sites) and Belgium (2 sites), providing on-site fresh meat cutting, charcuterie, dried sausages, convenience products, and an extensive portfolio of 25+ specialty meat concepts (including Japanese Wagyu, Ibérico pork, Swedish Gårdsgris, Gaasterlander Kruidenvarken, and regional Dutch breeds). Production is anchored at the Emmen headquarters and a second production/distribution site in Twello (~100-110 employees), supported by an in-house worstmakerij (sausage factory) that applies traditional recipes with modern techniques — cooking, sous-vide, roasting, smoking, drying, and salting.
The revenue model is wholesale B2B. Products are sold exclusively through HANOS to professional hospitality buyers (restaurants, hotels, cafes) and through partner Distrivers to hospitals and care institutions; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is wholly owned by Weca Holding, which itself sits within the HANOS corporate group since 2007, making it structurally a captive butcher arm of the larger Dutch hospitality wholesaler; no private equity or venture backing is evident. New commercial extensions include the Van der Zee Vegan sub-brand, a Redefine Meat partnership for plant-based 'New Meat' assortments, and an organic/responsible range under the IK KOOK BEWUST umbrella.
Operationally, the firm runs chef-slager advisory services for Horeca customers per season, an internal quality department handling allergens, nutritional values and microbiology, and a marketing and new-business function based in Hoogeveen. Headcount is in the 251-500 range, and the company is active on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram with an extensive Dutch-language recipe and preparation content library. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no APIs, no documented technology stack beyond standard e-commerce and content marketing tooling, and no recent funding rounds, M&A, or public listing.
Van der Zee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Van der Zee
- Legal name
- Van der Zee Vleesgrootverbruik B.V.
- Website
- https://vanderzee.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Van der Zee is a Netherlands-based artisanal meat processor and supplier, founded in 1925, that operates as the exclusive butcher inside all HANOS wholesale locations across the Netherlands and Belgium, serving hospitality professionals and, via Distrivers, hospitals and care institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Van der Zee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Meat Processing and Wholesale Butchery
- NAICS
- Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Meat Retailers (445240)
- SIC
- Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sausage Manufacturing (Fresh, Cooked, Fermented, Emulsified) (AFANAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Butcher Shops & Meat Markets (CRAHAHAB), Plant-Based Meat Manufacturers (End-to-End Brands) (AFANAKAA), Hot Dogs, Frankfurters & Bologna (Emulsified/Comminuted Meats) (AFANAEAG)
Keywords
Where Van der Zee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emmen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices23 records
Markets served
Van der Zee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wholesale Meat Sales to Hospitality: Van der Zee operates artisanal butcher counters within HANOS wholesale locations throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, selling premium quality meat and charcuterie to professional chefs and hospitality businesses.
- Healthcare Meat Supply: Products are supplied to hospitals and care institutions through partnership with Distrivers, providing prepared meat products and meals.
- Own Sausage Factory Products: Proprietary specialty products including dried sausages, processed meats, and convenience foods sold exclusively through HANOS and Distrivers distribution channels.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Van der Zee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Van der Zee is an artisanal butcher and meat processor that produces fresh meat, charcuterie, dried and smoked sausages, and convenience products at facilities in Emmen and Twello. The company operates its own sausage factory (worstmakerij) and sells its products exclusively through butcher counters in HANOS wholesale locations across the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as through partner Distrivers to hospitals and care institutions. It serves professional hospitality buyers with an extensive portfolio of regional Dutch and international meat concepts combined with seasonal advisory from chef-slagers.
Product overview
Van der Zee is an artisanal butcher operating as the professional butcher division of HANOS, serving the hospitality and institutional markets in the Netherlands and Belgium. The company offers a unified platform of meat products and services organized around several core pillars: (1) Fresh meat cut to order by skilled butchers, (2) Own sausage-making facility (worstmakerij) producing dried sausages, smoked products, and convenience items, (3) An extensive portfolio of 25+ specialty meat concepts including Wagyu beef (Japanese and crossbred varieties), Australian/Canadian/American grain-fed beef, Swedish farm pork, Gaasterlander Kruidenvarken, Ibérico pork, UK lamb, and regional Dutch products like Regiorunderen, and (4) A growing plant-based line under the Van der Zee Vegan brand and Redefine Meat partnership. Products are distributed exclusively through HANOS locations and Distrivers for institutional customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Van der Zee Vegan: 100% plant-based meat alternatives brand offering vegan products including burgers, sausages, minced meat, and bacon substitutes.
- Van der Zee Worstmakerij
Products and services
- Vers vlees (Fresh Meat)
Quantifiable outcome
- Products available in 18 HANOS wholesale locations across Netherlands and Belgium
Companies that use Van der Zee
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Van der Zee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Van der Zee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- HANOScoreVan der Zee is the exclusive artisanal butcher for HANOS wholesale. Van der Zee operates butcher counters in all HANOS locations throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. Products are available exclusively through HANOS and include fresh meat cut to order, charcuterie, dried sausages, convenience products, and specialty regional and international meat concepts.
- DistriverscoreVan der Zee supplies products to hospitals and care institutions through partnership with Distrivers. Products include prepared meat products and meals for healthcare nutrition, with Van der Zee also preparing specific cuts like sukade pieces, beef portions, and pork shoulder for patient meals.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Van der Zee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ad van Geloven: Dutch processed-meat and sausage manufacturer specializing in horeca and retail meat products. Highly comparable operating model: own production of sausages and processed meats distributed through Dutch foodservice channels, overlapping directly with Van der Zee's worstmakerij and processed meat portfolio.
- Westfort Vleeswaren: Dutch pork processor producing horeca-grade processed meats and bacon. Direct peer in Dutch processed-meat category with overlapping target customers in foodservice and retail channels.
- Zwanenberg Food Group: Dutch family-owned meat processor with a broad portfolio of sausages, hams, and ready-meat products across horeca and retail. Comparable in scale and target markets, with overlapping processed meat categories and Dutch horeca distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Danish Crown: Farmer-owned Danish meat cooperative operating across pork and beef across Europe. Compares as a broad incumbent in meat processing and processed-meat manufacturing with overlapping customer types, though it is significantly larger and more vertically integrated than Van der Zee.
- Vion Food Group: Netherlands-based global meat processor with extensive slaughtering and processing operations across Europe. Most direct Dutch category peer to Van der Zee, though Vion's scale, integrated slaughter, and broad B2B/B2C reach make it a larger incumbent versus Van der Zee's narrower horeca-butcher niche.
- Tönnies Group: Germany's largest meat processor specializing in pork, beef, and sausages. Comparable broad incumbent in meat processing with similar charcuterie and processed meat output, though primarily Germany-focused with a different distribution model than Van der Zee's HANOS-anchored approach.
- Bell Food Group: Swiss/European meat and convenience food producer with charcuterie and processed meat operations across multiple European markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent in European processed meats with similar horeca/retail exposure and own-brand strategy.
Emerging players
- De Groene Weg: Dutch organic butcher chain sourced directly from organic farmers, with similar animal welfare and regional provenance focus as Van der Zee's 'IK KOOK BEWUST' assortment. Comparable as a Dutch specialty-meat brand with overlapping values-based positioning, though more retail-oriented than Van der Zee's B2B horeca model.
- Redefine Meat: Israel-based plant-based meat producer with which Van der Zee has a commercial partnership to distribute 'New Meat' in HANOS. Emerging player that intersects with Van der Zee's vegan brand strategy and represents a comparable adjacency in the alternative-protein category.
Regional players
- Handl Tyrol: Austrian regional producer of cured/smoked hams and sausages with strong hospitality focus in DACH. Compares as a regional specialty meat player with comparable artisan/processed-meat model, but operating in a different geography than Van der Zee.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Van der Zee social profiles
Digital presenceVan der Zee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Van der Zee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Van der Zee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Van der Zee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Van der Zee
What does Van der Zee do?
Van der Zee is an artisanal butcher and meat processor that produces fresh meat, charcuterie, dried and smoked sausages, and convenience products at facilities in Emmen and Twello. The company operates its own sausage factory (worstmakerij) and sells its products exclusively through butcher counters in HANOS wholesale locations across the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as through partner Distrivers to hospitals and care institutions. It serves professional hospitality buyers with an extensive portfolio of regional Dutch and international meat concepts combined with seasonal advisory from chef-slagers.
Is Van der Zee a public or private company?
Van der Zee is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Van der Zee founded?
Van der Zee was founded in 1925. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Van der Zee based?
Van der Zee is headquartered in Emmen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Van der Zee make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Meat Sales to Hospitality is the primary driver. The others are healthcare Meat Supply and own Sausage Factory Products.
Who are Van der Zee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ad van Geloven, Westfort Vleeswaren and Zwanenberg Food Group. Broad incumbents are Danish Crown, Vion Food Group, Tönnies Group and Bell Food Group. Emerging players are De Groene Weg and Redefine Meat. Handl Tyrol is listed as a regional player.
Does Van der Zee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Van der Zee.
What industry is Van der Zee in?
Van der Zee's product category is Meat Processing and Wholesale Butchery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANAEAC, Sausage Manufacturing (Fresh, Cooked, Fermented, Emulsified), with a secondary code of CRAHAHAB, Butcher Shops & Meat Markets. Its NAICS code is 311612 and its SIC code is 2013.