Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie

What Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie does

Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie (SOL) is a Dutch sector development foundation founded in 1989 and headquartered in Bunnik, Utrecht, with additional regional offices in Breda and Deventer. It holds statutory recognition as the official training and development fund for the Levensmiddelenindustrie (Dutch food industry) and is jointly governed by the sector's employer organizations (FNLI, NVB, VBZ, NZO) and employee organizations (CNV, FNV). The foundation administers a portfolio of government subsidy programs — including ESF+, SLIM-scholing, MDIEU and the flagship FIT2030 programme — and acts as a knowledge partner, subsidy activator and collaboration broker for the sector. SOL is staffed by 22 employees and coordinates a delivery network of over 20 implementation partners including Wecreate Consulting, Cbt, Stichting Bakkracht, MyDailyLifestyle and Buro voor Fysieke Arbeid.

SOL's product portfolio combines subsidy administration, organizational consulting and community building. Core offerings include FIT2030 (Food in Transitie 2030), the SLIM and ESF+ subsidy schemes, the Bedrijfsontwikkelplan (company development plan) methodology, the Mens & Techniek 4.0 program for Industry 4.0 readiness, the TechSamenSterk leadership and operations trajectory, and the Status: beschikbaar refugee integration initiative. Adjacent community and ecosystem products include Lead FWD (HR manager community co-built with Plant FWD), Foodworks (student-industry challenges with Youth Impact Foundation), and the Young Professionals Kennisnetwerk. Customer-facing impact metrics disclosed include at least 15,000 employees engaged in sustainable employability through FIT2030 Part I (2022-2023), 86 employees trained at Borgesius Rotterdam, 58 seniors placed via the NOBW pilot, and ~50% participation in Merba's PMO vitality programme.

The business model is non-profit and grant-funded: SOL receives primary funding from the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and sector collective-labour-agreement contributions, charges administrative fees for subsidy guidance, and collects modest employer contributions on subsidized programs. Subsidy levels range from 38-50% on FIT2030 activities to 90% on certain SLIM-scholing qualifications. Pricing is structured around multi-year program cycles aligned to policy windows (e.g., SLIM 2025-2027). The go-to-market motion is consultative and community-led: SOL reaches companies through sector associations, regional partnerships, events (Plant FWD founding partnership), webinars, and its three regional offices. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie

Legal name

Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie (SOL)

Website

https://sol-online.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOL (Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie) is the recognized Dutch sector development foundation for the food industry, administering government subsidies, workforce training programs, and organizational consulting for Levensmiddelenindustrie companies across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Subsidy Administration

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs (BPADAOAL)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Food industry training
• Subsidy administration services
• Lifelong learning consulting
• Human capital development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bunnik

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Subsidy administration and program management: SOL facilitates and administers government subsidy programs (ESF+, SLIM, MDIEU, FIT2030) for companies in the food industry. It charges a contribution/fee for subsidy administration and guidance. Some programs are partially or fully subsidized, with companies paying a small contribution in some cases.
2. Subsidized training and consulting services: SOL coordinates and delivers subsidized training, development programs, and organizational consulting through a network of FIT2030 partners. In many cases, activities are free or require only a small contribution from companies. SOL's revenue derives from government subsidy administration fees and sector funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie (SOL) is a Dutch sector development foundation that administers government subsidy programs (ESF+, SLIM, MDIEU, FIT2030) and provides workforce development consulting for companies in the Dutch food industry (LMI). It connects employers, employee organizations, training partners, and government bodies to fund and coordinate training, sustainable employability programs, organizational change projects, and lifelong learning initiatives for food manufacturing companies.

Product overview

SOL (Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie) is the recognized training and development fund for the food industry (LMI), operating for over 35 years. Rather than a single software product, SOL operates as a platform of subsidy programs, training initiatives, and professional communities. The core offering is the FIT2030 program, which provides subsidies (ESF+ and SLIM-scholing) for companies to develop their workforce. Supporting offerings include Lead FWD (HR community), Bedrijfsontwikkelplan (company development plans), Mens & Techniek 4.0 (human-tech integration), and various sector-specific programs like Status: beschikbaar for refugee integration. SOL connects businesses with training partners and government subsidies to promote lifelong learning, innovation capacity, and sustainable employability in the food industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lead FWD: A community for HR managers in the food industry, set up by SOL and Plant FWD, focusing on leadership, sustainable employability, and sector-wide challenges such as the protein transition.
• Food in Transitie 2030 (FIT2030)
• Status: beschikbaar
• TechSamenSterk
• Foodworks
• Young Professionals Kennisnetwerk

Products and services

• FIT2030 (Food in Transitie 2030) Primary subsidy program helping companies in the Dutch food industry become future-proof by 2030. Covers themes including vitality, good employment practices, lifelong learning, personal initiative, and early retirement options for food industry employees.
• ESF+ Subsidie (Europees Sociaal Fonds Plus) European subsidy program administered by SOL that helps companies develop employees with education levels up to mbo-4, providing 40% subsidy for training. Funded by the European Union.
• SLIM-scholing Subsidie Dutch government subsidy for training within sectoral development paths. Provides 90% subsidy for qualifications up to mbo-3 and 40% for mbo-4 and above, made available by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Available 1 September 2025 through 31 December 2027.
• Lead FWD Community Community for HR managers in the food industry, co-created by SOL and Plant FWD. Provides events, webinars, whitepapers, tools (competency matrix), and networking focused on leadership, sustainable employability, and sector challenges like the protein transition.
• Bedrijfsontwikkelplan (Company Development Plan) Structured development plan that identifies where a company wants to go in coming years and what knowledge, skills, and functions are needed. Helps connect employee development with company goals. Piloted with 14 bakeries in 2022.
• Mens & Techniek 4.0 Program focused on connecting organizational structure with culture for lasting results. Combines social innovation with technical innovation to prepare organizations for Industry 4.0.
• Status: beschikbaar Initiative guiding motivated status holders (refugees with residence permit) toward careers in the food sector, with training, language support, and personal guidance for both employees and employers. Launched in collaboration with Werkcentrum Noordoost-Brabant.
• WE CHANGE WITHIN Program developed with Wecreate Consulting to restore balance between human and technical aspects and bring structure (short-term) and culture (long-term) closer together.
• Sectorale Ontwikkelpaden Development paths showing functions within the food industry and training needed to perform these functions, covering roles from production worker to technologist and manager.
• Young Professionals Kennisnetwerk Network initiative by Focusplaza and SOL connecting young talents within the food sector and stimulating their professional growth.
• Foodworks Collaboration with Youth Impact Foundation (Soapbox) bringing companies and students together through practical challenges, including in-house sprints and a national Food Sector Hackathon on 20 November 2025.
• Knowledge & Development Voucher (Flevo Campus) Voucher program co-managed with Flevo Campus for food companies in Flevoland. Entrepreneur invests between €4,500 and €12,500, which is matched by Flevo Campus and SOL to provide up to €30,000 in knowledge and training (or €35,000 with leercultuurscan option).

Quantifiable outcome

• At least 15,000 employees worked on their sustainable employability through FIT2030 Part I (2022-2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Plant FWDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOL is a founding partner of Plant FWD, an initiative focused on making the food industry futureproof with specific attention to accelerating the protein transition. SOL's role includes highlighting the importance of leadership in times of transition and social innovation in the food sector. The partnership includes joint events, a SOL Garden at the Plant FWD event, and co-development of the Lead FWD community.
• Wecreate ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWecreate Consulting is a core FIT2030 partner that delivers training, coaching, and organizational development programs to food industry companies. It has developed programs including 'de sterke medewerker', 'de krachtige leermeester', 'de sterke teamleider', 'TechSamenSterk', and bedrijfsontwikkelplannen for bakeries. Wecreate works directly with companies on the ground delivering SOL's subsidized programs.
• Stichting BakkrachtcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStichting Bakkracht developed the Bedrijfsontwikkelplan (Business Development Plan) for bakeries in collaboration with Wecreate Consulting and SOL's FIT2030 program. The program helps bakeries develop employees to prepare for the future, with companies paying only a small contribution thanks to subsidy from Sociaal Fonds Bakkersbedrijf and FIT2030.
• Buro voor Fysieke Arbeid (BvFA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuro voor Fysieke Arbeid is a FIT2030 partner that provides QuickScans to identify physically demanding work moments and delivers 'Fit en Gezond op je Werkplek' workshops. It works with food companies including Texelse Bierbrouwerij to improve workplace health and reduce physical strain.
• MyDailyLifestyleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMyDailyLifestyle is a FIT2030 partner that delivers Preventief Medisch Onderzoek (PMO) / health checks and personal intervention plans for employees. It worked with Merba to achieve ~50% participation rate in vitality programming.
• FellominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFello is a FIT2030 partner that provides 1-on-1 guidance and awareness programs for organizations on caregiver support (mantelzorg). It helps companies keep employees who are caregivers sustainably employable.
• CbtcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCbt (Resultaat uit opleiden) is a FIT2030 partner that designs customized e-learning modules for specific functions in food industry companies. It worked with KIVO Plastic Verpakkingen to create uniform training modules combined with workplace-specific training and practical guidance.
• Zuivel NLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZuivel NL collaborated with FrieslandCampina, SOL, and Wecreate Consulting to develop tools for sustainable employability (S(k)en Jezelf DI questionnaire and DI game) as part of the dairy sector's implementation of the 1% DI budget from the Zuivel CAO.
• Flevo CampusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlevo Campus co-manages the Knowledge & Development Voucher with SOL, contributing to the research component while SOL provides training, guidance, and team development. Together they match entrepreneur contributions to provide up to €30,000 in total support for food companies in Flevoland.
• Noordoost-Brabant Werkt! (NOBW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOBW partnered with Libéma Beurzen & Evenementen and SOL's FIT2030 program on a pilot to explore 'onbenut arbeidspotentieel' (unused labor potential), specifically targeting seniors for part-time work. The pilot resulted in 58 seniors finding work and ~600 hours worked.
• FoodDelta ZeelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoodDelta Zeeland is a regional collaboration that SOL works with to set up events and programs for people in the food sector in the Zeeland region.
• Werkcentrum Noordoost-BrabantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOL launched the 'Status: beschikbaar' initiative in collaboration with Werkcentrum Noordoost-Brabant to guide motivated status holders (refugees with residence permits) toward careers in the food industry, while preparing organizations to receive and support them.
• Youth Impact Foundation (Soapbox)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOL and Youth Impact Foundation co-created Foodworks — The Food Sector Challenge, a program that brings together companies and students (hbo/wo) to work on real HR and innovation challenges. The program includes in-house sprints and a national Food Sector Hackathon on 20 November 2025.
• Food Innovation Academy (FIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOL participated in FIA's network breakfast session on labor market issues, speaking about the challenges in the food industry and SOL's role in addressing them.
• Stichting Aeres GroepminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in the 'Veranderkracht voor de Levensmiddelenindustrie' LLO Katalysator project, contributing educational expertise to the landelijke alliantie targeting dairy, industrial bakeries, and sweets sectors.
• Coöperatie Zuivelopleidingen Nederland u.a. (ZON)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in the 'Veranderkracht voor de Levensmiddelenindustrie' LLO Katalysator project, contributing dairy sector-specific training expertise to the initiative.
• Yuverta / Zone.college / Stichting FirdaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational institution partners in the 'Veranderkracht voor de Levensmiddelenindustrie' LLO Katalysator project, contributing vocational training expertise to develop flexible and practice-oriented LLO offerings.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Colland Arbeidsmarkt: Colland is the social fund / O&O platform for the Dutch agricultural and green sectors, administering SLIM subsidies and workforce development programs for agriculture, horticulture, and adjacent green industries — directly comparable to SOL's role in the food industry value chain.
• SOOB (Stichting Opleidings- en Ontwikkelingsfonds Beroepsgoederenvervoer): SOOB is the O&O fund for the Dutch professional road transport and logistics sector, with the same bipartite governance and government subsidy administration model as SOL, but focused on transport rather than food.
• OOM (Opleidings- en Ontwikkelingsfonds Metaal & Techniek): OOM is the O&O fund for the Dutch metalworking and technical industry, structured almost identically to SOL — bipartite governance (employers + unions), administers government training subsidies (SLIM, ESF+), and runs workforce development programs. It is the closest structural peer outside of food.
• A+O Metalektro: A+O Metalektro is the social fund for the Dutch metalektro sector (electrical/electronic engineering), administering training subsidies and HR development programs with bipartite social partner governance — structurally analogous to SOL.
• Wij Techniek: Wij Techniek is the O&O fund and sector development organization for the Dutch installation and technical services sector, administering training subsidies, running workforce campaigns, and connecting employers with talent — a near-direct functional mirror of SOL for the installatiebranche.
• A+O fonds Bouw: A+O fonds Bouw is the bipartite social fund for the Dutch construction sector, administering training subsidies, HR programs, and labor market initiatives under social partner governance — directly comparable to SOL in structure and operating model.

Emerging players

• Stichting Bakkracht: Bakkracht is the development organization for the Dutch bakery sector, co-developing the Bedrijfsontwikkelplan with SOL and Wecreate. It focuses on a sub-segment of SOL's broader food industry mandate, making it a partial peer with overlapping programs.

Broad incumbents

• FNLI (Federatie Nederlandse Levensmiddelenindustrie): FNLI is the Dutch food industry employer federation that sits on SOL's board and represents the broader industry politically. While not a direct operational peer, FNLI operates in the same sector with overlapping scope on industry development, sustainability, and labor market issues.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-opleidingsfonds-levensmiddelenindustrie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie