The history of the Royal Smilde Food Group

The Royal Smilde Food Group has grown into a significant, international player in the food industry. The group consists of 12 specialised medium-large production and sales units in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the UK. These units operate under their own name while benefiting from synergies across the business. The three business units; Bakery, Fresh Chilled and MOF (Margarine, Oils and Fats), employ around 1000 people at home and abroad. Throughout its 145 years history, the Royal Smilde name has become synonymous with quality, sustainability, innovation and food-safety.

The Royal Smilde Food Group originates from a company set up by the Smilde family from Heerenveen in the Netherlands. At the outset, in 1863, the company was mainly active in the meat sector with the processing of cattle and trade in meat.

After 1900, a period followed where the emphasis lay on fats for consumption. In 1950, the focus was placed on the collection and melting of raw fats. From the 70’s the product portfolio was widened with the addition of margarine, sugar-products, bakery-articles and salads.

With the takeover of Gebr. Smilde by VION Ingredients mid 2007, Royal Smilde has shifted its strategic focus. There was a shift away from producing ingredients and semi-finished goods for the industry towards fully or almost ready-made consumer products for various target groups, such as the professional processing, retail, food service and business-to-business sectors.

Chronological summary

1863
  • Purchase of the first company building at the Heerenwal in Heerenveen where a slaughterhouse is established.
1898
  • Purchase of slaughterhouse in Harlingen. Foundation of a partnership under firm Gebr. Smilde by three sons of the founder: Sybren, Jan and Roelof Smilde.
1902
  • Natura beef fat is submitted to the trade register. Natura is awarded a prize for the first time.
1905
  • Opening of a fat melting factory in Brussels, Belgium by Roelof Smilde.
1908
  • Closing of the factory in Harlingen. Continuing export activities and start of fat melting factory in Rotterdam by Jan Smilde.
1914
  • Building (replacing) of a fat melting factory in Brussels, Belgium.
1923
  • Building of a new fat melting factory in Rotterdam.
1930
  • Take-over of a fat melting factory in Maubeuge, France.
1941
  • Start of collecting and melting of raw fats.
1945
  • Dirk Smilde (fourth generation) starts working in the factory in Heerenveen.
1954
  • Dirk Smilde is appointed as co-director in Heerenveen next to his father.
1957
  • Opening of the first depot in Broek in Waterland.
1961
  • Opening of a new fat melting factory in Apeldoorn.
1963
  • Purchase of the sister-company Gebr. Smilde, Rotterdam which was closed several years later; the trade- and depot functions are taken over by the depot in Zoetermeer.
1963
  • Start of building a new factory in Oudeschoot (Heerenveen-Zuid).
1964
  • Take-over of the fat melting factory Jellema in Leeuwarden. The production is transferred to Heerenveen.
1965
  • First depot opened in Bardel, Germany. Start fat melting factory in Bockhorst, Germany.
1966
  • Opening of new fat melting factory in Oudeschoot, Heerenveen-Zuid.
1968
  • Together with Smeding and the NPM, the forming of Mildis Holding; extension of the melting capacity plus start of new activities in margarine and refining of vegetable oils.
  • Arend Smilde (son of Dirk Smilde) starts working in the company (fifth generation).
1969
  • Take-over of the fat melting company Hoogenhout in Nijmegen, Gelderland.
1970
  • Take-over of the fat melting company Van der Jagt, Breda.
1972
  • Smilde Holding BV replaces Mildis Holding; all incorporated companies are changed into limited companies.
  • Take-over of Benninga’s Friesche Margarine Fabrieken, Leeuwarden.
1973
  • Take-over of the margarine company De Rijnstreek in Bodegraven.
  • Take-over of the fat melting company Havimex in Kerkrade.
  • Start activities in the sugar work branch by take-over of Tangara.
  • Building of a new fat melting factory in Bockhorst, Germany.
1974
  • Take-over of the margarine company Batava in Nijmegen. Take-over of the sugar work company Frisia in Irnsum.
  • Take-over of the Central Bakery Schoterland.
1976
  • Opening of a new fat melting factory in Eindhoven (production of Nijmegen, Breda and Kerkrade are transferred to Eindhoven).
1977
  • Take-over of the margarine factory Nederveen in Den Bosch.
1978
  • Building of the new factory Smilfood in Heerenveen (an amalgamate of margarine production and replacing of bakery).
  • Start activities in the snack branch by take-over of Albert van Zoonen in Schagen.
  • Take-over of the refinery De Oosterenk in Epe.
  • Opening of a new factory in Biebesheim/Frankfurt, Germany.
1979
  • Take-over of Fano B.V. in Oosterwolde.
  • Purchase of the fat melting factory in Romans/Lyon in France.
1980
  • Take-over of the salad company FineFood in Emmen.
1981
  • Take-over of the bakery Pruvé in Edam.
1986
  • Take-over of the Rotterdamse Margarine Industrie (Romi).
  • Purchase of the second fat melting company Fondoirs Gachot in Strasbourg, France.
1988
  • Smilde Holding receives the award Royal and is renamed to Royal Smilde.
  • End of the activities in the sugar work branch by the selling of Frisia.
  • New fat melting factory in Erolzheim, South Germany.
1992
  • Take-over of the bakery factory Les Délices du Palais in Septeuil, France.
1996
  • Building of a new factory in Elsholz Berlin; the Brandenburger Fettschmelze in co-operation with Robert Unkel GmbH.
  • Take-over of the bakery factory Patisserie Renaissonaise in France.
  • Take-over of the producer of fresh chilled meals and meal components Profood in Oldenzaal.
  • Take-over of the company Subliem in Belgium.
1998
  • Start of building new factory in Eindhoven.
  • The amalgamation of Romi and Smilfood: Romi Smilfood.
  • Ending of the production of the fat melting factory in Heerenveen.
2000
  • Closing down of the melting activities in Heerenveen.
2001
  • Selling of the business unit Fresh Chilled (FanoFineFood BV) by management buy-out.
2003
  • Take-over of the bakery Van Welzen BV in Bodegraven.
2004
  • Take-over of FanoFineFood BV in Oosterwolde.
2005
  • Business Unit Bakery starts operating under the name Smilde Bakery.
  • Smilde Bakery buys bakery activities of Dutch CSM's subsidiary Unipro, known as deGoede
2006
  • Smilde Bakery sells ‘traditional biscuit’ assortment to Dutch Van Doorn Bakery and closes the plant at Bodegraven
Summer 2007
2008
  • Smilde Bakery sells cheese biscuits to Euro Pâtisserie.