September 08, 2008                 

Poortman London is delighted to announce the opening of Poortman Holland, a full-service branch office based in Waalwijk - Holland, strategically located between Rotterdam and Antwerp.  At the same time we have taken the opportunity to update our logo and our website.

Poortman has recruited a very experienced Dutch team of pulse and seed importers, led by Cor Hage who will manage the Dutch operation. Cor is joined by his long-term colleagues Wim Santegoets, Erik Besselink, Govert van Tilborg, Wil van Buel and Arie-Jan van der Biezen. Together the Poortman Holland team has over 125 years industry experience.

Andrew Jacobs, Managing Director of Poortman London says "We are delighted to welcome our Dutch colleagues.  The team has been strengthened by the addition of such well respected industry professionals.  We can be called ‘peas out of the same pod' as, in a sense, Poortman Holland is coming back home.  The Poortman family commenced trading in Holland in 1868, with my father opening the London office in 1950.  We are in the unique position of having served European customers for 140 years and yet today we remain vigorous and full of passion and enthusiasm about sourcing quality ingredients for our customers.  As in the past, we will continue to help our customers in planning their procurement needs in a fast-changing and volatile world market for pulses and seeds".

"We also welcome Joan Lee (Li Qiong) who has been appointed General Manager of Poortman China, with responsibility for coordinating procurement on behalf of the Poortman group in China.  Joan will be based in Tianjin, where she worked for the previous 6 years as a colleague of Cor Hage and his team, in a similar procurement position, specialising in pulses and birdseeds.  Joan also assumes management responsibility for Poortman's own dedicated pulse processing factory in Tianjin".

Cor Hage says "Both London and Waalwijk offices will focus on bringing 'new geography' solutions to our customers.  We are well placed to pool our experience and global contacts to ensure security of supplies at favourable cost by utilising sustainable supply chains we have built with developing countries. We have the added advantage of support and market intelligence from Trinidad Benham of Denver, USA, an active shareholder in Poortman and the leading American processors and packagers of beans, rice and popcorn".

Carl C Hartman, Poortman Chairman and CEO of Trinidad says "We are extremely pleased with the addition of Cor Hage and his team and look forward to the future growth of the Poortman Group."

The Poortman group looks forward to providing value-for-money solutions to its customer base.  Andrew and Cor pledge "We will work hard to continue to justify our customers' support and trust".

Contact Poortman to learn how to add value to your procurement planning.

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