Jan van den Adel has exited the business he created in 2011 with Jan de Sterke and Marnix van Fraassen
Jan van den Adel has sold his share of Dutch fresh produce company Direct Source International – part of DSI Group – to its managing director, Hilbert Klop.
In a statement, the group revealed that Klop was now one of the enterprise’s owners, alongside Jan de Sterke and Marnix van Fraassen.
It also said that Van den Adel had set his sights “on a different path” after 14 years at DSI and more than 35 years in the fresh produce business.
The move represents an important shift for a group that has sought to develop strong connections with its younger colleagues.
“This takeover is important for safeguarding the continuity of DSI Group and DSI,” said Klop. “We face a lot of opportunities, but also a great deal of challenges, each and every day. Our professional and motivated team is ready for the future, which is essential in this market.”
The organisation has worked for several years with a young commercial procurement management team that owns part of its largest business activity, Direct Source International, and in which another shareholder, Arco Verweij, is involved.
“The company plans to continue along the same path in the years ahead,” it added. “With substantial sales in Europe, the ambitious and young management team has an excellent foundation for the future.”
Global reach
Alongside De Sterke and Van Fraassen, Van den Adel has played a key role in the company’s development, right from its inception in 2011.
From its base in Strijen, close to Dordrecht and Rotterdam, DSI procures and supplies fresh fruit on behalf of customers year round. It specialises in citrus and grapes, but also supplies other products including avocados, dates, and kiwifruit.
It also now operates a business called Global Fresh International, which supplies fresh produce to customers in the Middle East and Asia.
Van den Adel said he looked back with pride on what had been achieved. “We wanted to do things differently, better,” he explains. “We wanted to do business together with growers, suppliers and buyers based on respect and jointly setting goals and developing concepts.”
His own involvement focused on sales, retail, and sourcing from places like India and Italy. “I was very excited to become part of the group and look back on a fulfilling and successful experience.”
