Van Menno

What Van Menno does

Van Menno is a privately held artisanal bakery founded in 2000 by Menno in Rotterdam and currently operating from a purpose-built facility in IJsselstein, Netherlands. The company specializes in traditional French-style organic breads, primarily sourdough-based products using a proprietary 20-year-old sourdough culture maintained by Menno and refreshed daily. The product portfolio spans three classical baking methods (sourdough fermentation, poolish pre-ferment, and classic French techniques with minimal yeast), offered across wheat, spelt, and rye varieties with inclusions such as walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins, and seeds. All products are organic, stone-milled, and baked on the stone floor of the oven.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct-to-consumer online sales (via its own e-commerce storefront with PostNL nationwide delivery and bakery pickup in IJsselstein), retail distribution (through Ekoplaza organic grocery stores at 50+ locations, Picnic online delivery, and 12+ specialty food retailers), and direct B2B supply to horeca establishments across the Netherlands using its own delivery vehicles. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from €3.50 to €5.35 per loaf, with tiered shipping rates encouraging larger orders. Van Menno employs approximately six people across baking, packing, and delivery, supplemented by a structured program employing young people with distance to the labor market through job coaching.

The business is founder-owned and operated with no external investment, public listing, or institutional ownership disclosed. Founder Menno remains the central figure, drawing on his cum laude training from Institut National Boulangerie Patisserie in Rouen (1998) and his apprenticeship at Le Moulin de la Vierge in Paris (1999). The company has scaled organically from a 60m2 Rotterdam bakery in 2000 to a purpose-built ultramodern facility in IJsselstein in 2009, with nationwide Dutch distribution established across retail, e-commerce, and foodservice channels.

Name

Van Menno

Legal name

Van Menno

Website

https://vanmenno.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Van Menno is a privately held Dutch artisanal bakery founded in 2000, specializing in organic French-style sourdough breads using a 20-year-old proprietary culture. It serves Dutch consumers, premium restaurants, and retailers including Ekoplaza via its IJsselstein facility and nationwide distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Bakery

NAICS

Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (3118), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Retail Bakeries (311811)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Artisan & Specialty Bakeries (Sourdough, Heritage Grains) (THAFAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG), Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery) (THAFAFAA), Wholesale / Commercial Bakeries (B2B Supply) (THAFAFAF), Premium/Artisanal Bakery Wholesale (AFAIAFAG)

Keywords

• Artisanal bread baking
• Organic sourdough bread
• French-style bakery
• Stone-floor oven bread
• Horeca bread supply

Headquarters

HQ city

IJsselstein

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Bread Sales: Sale of artisanal sourdough breads directly to consumers through their e-commerce platform. Products are pre-baked, cooled, and shipped in compostable bags via PostNL. Also available for pickup at the bakery in IJsselstein.
2. Retail Distribution: Supply of breads to Ekoplaza organic grocery stores throughout the Netherlands and Picnic online delivery service.
3. Horeca/B2B Sales: Supply of fresh bread daily to better restaurants throughout the Netherlands using their own delivery vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Van Menno is a Dutch artisanal bakery that produces traditional French-style organic sourdough breads using a 20-year-old proprietary sourdough culture, stone-milled organic flour, and three classical French baking methods (sourdough fermentation, poolish pre-ferment, and classic French techniques). The company bakes bread directly on the stone floor of its ultramodern IJsselstein bakery and sells to consumers via its own e-commerce website with PostNL delivery, pickup at the bakery, distribution through Ekoplaza organic grocery stores and Picnic online delivery, and daily direct delivery to restaurants across the Netherlands.

Product overview

Van Menno is an artisan bakery specializing in traditional French-style breads, primarily sourdough-based products. The product portfolio centers on two main product lines: Desembol/Desembrood (sourdough breads) and Landbrood/Rustiek brood (country/rustic breads). Desembol/Desembrood products use the company's own sourdough culture cultivated 20 years ago and refreshed daily with flour and water, without added yeast. Landbrood uses a poolish (slack pre-dough) method with minimal yeast. Rustiek brood is made with a small amount of yeast and French wheat flour. All products are organic, stone-ground, and baked on the stone floor of the oven. The company offers wheat, spelt, and rye varieties, with additions including walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, and poppy seeds. Products are available for online ordering with bake-off instructions and pickup at the bakery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Desembol Tarwe Wit Bio Classic organic sourdough wheat bread made from stone-ground organic wheat flour, water, sea salt, and Van Menno's own 20-year-old sourdough culture without added yeast, with a crisp sturdy crust. Sold per 500g loaf.
• Desembol Tarwe Bruin Bio Coarse organic sourdough bread in light brown color made from stone-ground organic whole grain and refined wheat flour with germ, water, sea salt, and the company's own sourdough culture, featuring a crispy crust.
• Desembol Tarwe Walnoten Bio Organic sourdough walnut bread based on wheat white sourdough with 15% organic walnuts, giving the dough a gray/purple color, ideal with cheese.
• Desembol Spelt Wit Bio Sourdough spelt bread made from 100% organic spelt flour using a separate spelt sourdough culture, making it wheat-free. Made with an ancient grain variety with a distinct character.
• Desembrood Tarwe Wit Bio Classic organic sourdough wheat bread made from stone-ground organic wheat flour, water, sea salt, and the company's own sourdough culture without added yeast, suitable for soup, salads, or sliced garnishes.
• Desembrood Tarwe Bruin Bio Coarse organic sourdough bread in light brown color from stone-ground organic whole grain and refined wheat flour with germ, water, sea salt, and the company's own sourdough culture, featuring a crispy crust.
• Desembrood Tarwe Meerzaden Bio Organic sourdough multi-seed bread based on the wheat white sourdough, enriched with organic sunflower seeds, flaxseed, and poppy seed.
• Desembrood Tarwe Noot/Rozijn Bio Organic sourdough bread rich with walnuts, hazelnuts, and raisins, made from stone-ground organic whole grain and refined wheat flour, water, sea salt, and the company's own sourdough culture.
• Landbrood Tarwe/Rogge Wit Classic 'pain de campagne' from Normandy-inspired country bread with a razor-sharp crust, made with a poolish pre-dough that sits overnight before being added to the dough for natural full flavor.
• Landbrood Tarwe/Rogge Meerzaden Multi-seed variant of the classic 'pain de campagne' from Normandy, made with poolish, cream-colored wheat flour, whole grain rye flour, water, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, poppy seed, sea salt, and a small amount of yeast.
• Rustiek Brood Tarwe Wit French-style rustic bread made from cream-colored wheat flour from the finest French wheat, water, sea salt, and a very small amount of yeast, with a sharp crispy crust and irregular cream-white structure.
• 2 Rustieke Stokbroodjes Tarwe Wit Two rustic French-style baguettes made from cream-colored wheat flour from the finest French wheat, water, sea salt, and a very small amount of yeast; each baguette weighs 200 grams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bread remains fresh for up to 10 days when refrigerated
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PostNLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPostNL handles nationwide delivery of Van Menno's breads, collecting pre-baked, cooled, and packaged products for next-day delivery in 90% of cases. Orders include track & trace codes for delivery monitoring.
• EkoplazacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEkoplaza organic grocery chain distributes Van Menno breads at over 50 locations throughout the Netherlands, making products accessible to health-conscious organic food shoppers.
• PicnicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPicnic online grocery delivery service offers Van Menno breads for home delivery, providing additional direct-to-consumer channel.
• GimselminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty food retailer at Mariniersweg 9, Rotterdam offering Van Menno artisanal breads.
• LandmarktminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium food market at Schellingwouderdijk 339, Amsterdam carrying Van Menno products.
• M. de Leeuw DelicatessenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUpscale delicatessen at Stadhoudersweg 122D, Rotterdam offering Van Menno breads.
• BakkerswinkelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBakery retail chain with locations in Utrecht, Amsterdam West, and Zoetermeer carrying Van Menno products.
• Wims MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarket vendor at Noordermarkt Amsterdam (Saturday) and Markt Den Bosch (Friday) selling Van Menno breads.
• Koken aan de WaalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty food retailer at Oosterhoutsedijk 46, Lent offering Van Menno products.
• StadsmarktminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarket at Van Woustraat 103, Amsterdam carrying Van Menno breads.
• BroodlokaalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBakery specialty store at Slotlaan 247, Zeist offering Van Menno products.
• Landgoedwinkel MariënwaerdtminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstate shop at Oude Waag 21, Beesd carrying Van Menno breads.
• WaltminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty store at Koningstraat 16b, Arnhem offering Van Menno products.
• De Tuin van Broeder LudovicusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty food shop at Korte Delft 2a, Middelburg carrying Van Menno breads.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bakker Bart: One of the largest Dutch bakery retail chains with over 150 locations nationwide. Comparable as a Dutch bakery business but operates as a broad incumbent focused on daily bread convenience rather than the premium organic artisan niche.
• Albert Heijn: Netherlands' largest supermarket chain with a significant own-brand bakery range including organic and sourdough lines. Comparable as a Dutch bread distribution channel and competitive force in the artisan/space, but operates as a broad retail incumbent rather than a specialist.
• Le Pain Quotidien: Global bakery-restaurant chain with strong organic and sourdough heritage. Comparable in organic ingredient philosophy and French/European baking traditions, though operating at much larger scale and combining bakery with cafe foodservice.

Direct peers

• Poilâne: Iconic French sourdough bakery famous for its wood-fired stone oven and long-cultivated sourdough culture. Highly comparable in traditional French technique, stone oven baking, and premium positioning, though at a significantly larger international scale.
• Maison Kayser: French-style artisanal bakery chain founded by a master baker trained in traditional French methods. Comparable in French bread-making heritage, stone oven baking, and expansion of artisan bread through multi-channel retail.
• De Veldkeuken: Dutch organic-focused bakery and farm operation supplying artisan and sourdough products. Comparable in organic ingredient sourcing, traditional methods, and Dutch direct-to-consumer + horeca distribution.
• Stadsbakkerij Broer Bakt: Dutch urban artisanal bakery known for sourdough and traditional craft breads sold via own shops and restaurants. Directly comparable in craft positioning, Dutch market focus, and horeca supply, though with multiple retail locations.

Regional players

• Landmarkt: Amsterdam-based premium food market that already retails Van Menno products. Comparable as a Dutch premium/organic food retailer specializing in artisanal producers, though it operates in retail rather than production.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-menno

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Van Menno