Rob van der Velden: Location Manager

Some people start job hunting as soon as they graduate. Rob? He got a call before his last exam. Koen reached out to see if he wanted to come talk at Den Berk Délice. His name had been passed along by former classmates Nele Ooms and Wim, and the connection was immediate. Rob was impressed by the scale, structure, and especially the drive of the company. “This feels right,” he thought – and he was spot on.

First steps among the tomatoes

Rob started as Harvest and Crop Treatment Team Leader, working with the first Sweetelle and Cherrystar crops at Den Berk. It was an exciting period of literally and figuratively building for the future.

But standing still? That was never an option for Rob.

Growoing with the company

With Den Berk Délice’s rapid growth, new opportunities emerged. Rob began supporting other team leaders, first at Den Berk, then across all locations in Merksplas. As the company expanded further, however, his responsibilities became very large.

Four years ago, the role of Location Manager was created – a logical step to bring more clarity and responsibility to the organization. Rob was given the opportunity to take on this role at Den Berk, a position he continues to enjoy immensely.

In addition, he is part of the Core Labor Group, where he works on optimizing work processes. Sharing best practices, initiating projects, brainstorming improvements… it’s precisely this mix of operational and strategic thinking that suits Rob so well.

What makes working at Den Berk Délice so enjoyable?

For Rob, the success of Den Berk Délice lies in collaboration and shared passion:

“We all work towards one goal: growing delicious, flavorful tomatoes. Everyone does it with so much energy and enthusiasm. We’re all pulling in the same direction – that’s incredibly satisfying.”

The freedom and trust he receives also make a big difference:

“I sometimes compare it to combining the benefits of being self-employed with those of being in a salaried position. You get freedom and ownership, but also support, vacation, backup… the best of both worlds.”

Feet in the field, head in the future

Rob is a true doer, yet someone who is always thinking ahead – about how things can be done better, smarter, or more efficiently. He is one of those people who shapes Den Berk Délice every single day.

Beyond borders

His drive to improve doesn’t stop at Belgium’s borders. Together with colleague Tom, Rob supports the new team at DBD Maroc, helping to build and strengthen the local team, optimize work processes, and implement the DNA of Den Berk Délice.

He also ensures that employees receive the right tools to plan and organize more effectively – so that top-quality tomatoes make their way to Belgium from there as well.