Kivits Goes Handling BV

What Kivits Goes Handling BV does

Kivits Goes Handling BV (trade name "Goes Handling") is a Dutch specialized cold-chain handling company and one of 12 subsidiaries within the family-owned Kivits Logistics Group. Operating from three locations with a combined 11,000 m² of refrigerated warehouse, 51 cold cells, and 10 Ultra Low Oxygen (ULO) cells, the company provides import/export handling, conditioned storage, and Value Added Logistics (VAL) services — including sorting, repacking, and packaging — for fresh produce (AGF). The entity holds AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) and IFS food-safety certifications and serves enterprise customers across the Benelux fresh-produce supply chain.

The business model is B2B managed services: Goes Handling monetizes through warehousing fees, handling charges, and value-added packing services priced on a custom-quote basis per volume and service scope. The company is part of an integrated group that coordinates the full cold chain from international port handling (Rotterdam Fruit Wharf, with 250,000+ pallets per year and deep-water berths) through customs clearance (Kivits-Goes Customs), packing (Goes Packing, PackXpert), refrigerated transport (Kivits Drunen with 50+ trucks, Buchner Transport with 70+ trucks, Karel Hermans Transport), crossdocking (Kivits Logistics Belgium near Delhaize DC in Zellik), and cold storage (VGK Cool Logistics in Ridderkerk). The group's go-to-market is enterprise field sales to supermarket chains, fresh-produce producers, traders, and importers of citrus, exotics, and Mediterranean produce.

Goes Handling's technology core is physical infrastructure for controlled-atmosphere storage rather than software: ULO cells enable long-term fruit storage without quality loss; fully conditioned handling centres maintain product integrity during sorting and packaging. The group traces its origins to 1945 (Gebroeders Kivits) and is now under third-generation family leadership (Simone van Opzeeland-Kivits and Rob van Opzeeland since 2001). Group headcount totals approximately 450 employees across the Benelux and German service area, with no disclosed revenue, no external funding, and no AI/ML capabilities documented in the source data.

Name

Kivits Goes Handling BV

Legal name

Kivits Goes Handling BV

Website

https://kivitslogisticsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kivits Goes Handling BV is a Dutch cold-chain logistics subsidiary of the family-owned Kivits Logistics Group, providing temperature-controlled warehousing, handling, and value-added packing services for fresh produce across the Benelux. It serves supermarket chains, producers, and importers with AEO- and IFS-certified facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cold Chain Logistics Services

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Farm Product Warehousing and Storage (493130), General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Temperature-Controlled Distribution Centers (DCs) (AFAOAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chilled/Refrigerated Food Warehousing (0–5°C) (AFAOAFAD), Controlled-Atmosphere (CA) Storage Facilities (AFAOAEAA), Controlled-Atmosphere Transport & Containerized CA Storage (AFAOAEAH), Foodservice / Restaurant Supply Distribution Centers (TLALAEAJ), Cold Storage QA/Compliance & Traceability Services (HACCP/FSMA, audits) (AFAOAFAM)

Keywords

• Cold chain logistics
• Fresh produce handling
• Temperature-controlled storage
• Value added logistics
• Reefer freight services

Headquarters

HQ city

De Meern

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Logistics Services: Full-service supply chain management for temperature-controlled goods including warehousing, handling, and distribution services for AGF (fresh produce) and cooled products
2. Value Added Logistics (VAL): In-, om- and verpakken (sorting, repacking, packaging) services for fresh produce, meal packaging, and gift packages
3. Customs Clearance: Import/export customs clearance services through Kivits-Goes Customs subsidiary, including KCB inspection coordination

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kivits Goes Handling BV operates a fully conditioned fresh produce handling centre providing temperature-controlled warehousing, storage, import/export handling, and Value Added Logistics (sorting, repacking, packaging). The facility spans 11,000 m² of refrigerated warehouse space with 2,500 m² of production area across 3 locations, including 51 cooling cells and 10 ULO cells for extended shelf-life storage of vegetables and fruit. Services are delivered to supermarket chains, producers, traders, and importers across Benelux under AEO and IFS certifications.

Product overview

Kivits Goes Handling BV operates as part of the Kivits Logistics Group, providing specialized handling services for vegetables and fruit. The company runs a fully conditioned handling centre with significant cold storage capacity (11,000m² warehouse with 2,500m² production space across 51 cold cells at 3 locations). Services include import/export handling, packaging/VAL-activities, and cold storage solutions. The company is AEO- and IFS-certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Goes Handling

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7 operations ensuring continuous supply to Benelux and German markets
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KCB (Kwaliteits-Control-Bureau)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKCB is the official inspection body for fresh produce in the Netherlands. All Kivits Logistics Group locations are recognized inspection locations, allowing product quality inspections to be conducted on-site, streamlining the import/export process.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bakker Logistics: Dutch logistics provider with strong fresh and temperature-controlled food distribution capabilities. Comparable on multi-temperature warehousing, retail DC services, and Dutch/Belgian supermarket customer base.
• Eurofresh Distribution B.V. Dutch fresh produce and cold chain logistics specialist serving supermarket chains and importers. Comparable product mix — refrigerated warehousing, ripening, and distribution of fruit and vegetables — and overlapping Benelux customer base.
• Kloosterboer Services B.V. Largest family-owned Dutch cold storage and logistics provider. Directly comparable on temperature-controlled warehousing, frozen and chilled food handling, and European multi-site operations; competes with Kivits for Benelux food retail contracts.
• Coldstar Coldstorage B.V. Netherlands-based cold storage operator with comparable chilled/frozen warehousing offering for food customers. Directly comparable service mix and Benelux customer base; competes head-to-head for retailer and food-producer contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Lineage Logistics: World's largest temperature-controlled warehousing operator with material European footprint. Competes on cold storage capacity and integrated cold chain services; broader portfolio and PE-backed scale make it a formidable incumbent to mid-sized players like Kivits.
• XPO Logistics / GXO (European food/cold division): Large European contract logistics provider with temperature-controlled and food retail capabilities. Comparable on multi-temperature warehousing and B2B retail supply chain; broader, publicly listed incumbent with greater scale.
• AGRO Merchants Group: European cold storage and fresh/frozen food logistics platform. Comparable cold-chain services for food retail and producers; broader geographic reach and institutional backing position it as a larger, well-capitalised incumbent.

Emerging players

• Norfrigo / Nordic Cold Chain: European cold storage platform with growing presence across Benelux and neighbouring markets. Comparable temperature-controlled warehousing and value-added services; smaller scale but expanding footprint overlapping with Kivits' territory.

Others

• KCB (Kwaliteits-Control-Bureau): Dutch official inspection body for fresh produce and partner of Kivits. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem enabler — KCB inspection status at Kivits sites reduces import friction, making the partnership strategically important to the cold-chain value proposition.

Regional players

• Fresh Logistics System GmbH: Germany-based provider of temperature-controlled fresh produce logistics. Comparable cold-chain service model for fresh produce, but primarily serves German retail — adjacent competitor as Kivits expands into Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kivits-goes

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kivits Goes Handling BV