Zeelandia

Koninklijke Zeelandia Groep b.v. is an independent international producer of ingredients for bread and pastry bakeries. The company’s headquarters are located in Zierikzee, employing approximately 430 people. In total, Zeelandia has over 3,000 employees worldwide.

In 1900, Herman Johan Doeleman (1884–1948) laid the foundation for the company with the product "beschuitgelei", an aid for baking light, crisp rusks. The recipe was purchased for a small sum from a baker in Maassluis. HJD, the youngest son of a Zierikzee baker, started production in his mother’s kitchen. A driven entrepreneur, he focused from the very beginning on the needs of the bakery sector. His sales and advertising methods were revolutionary for the time. He began by writing letters to every baker he knew to promote his products and in 1925 launched his own bakery magazine "De Klok", which is still published twice a year today.

Soon the product range expanded to include bread improvers, and in the 1930s Zeelandia introduced its first modern bread improver: Zea, a fat emulsion based on new technologies. In 1935, Carlo followed – a water-in-oil emulsion developed for greasing baking trays and tins. Carlo remains a backbone of Zeelandia’s release agent product group and is exported to over 50 countries.

Major setbacks followed during World War II and the 1953 North Sea flood. Still, recovery came quickly. By 1965, the first building on the Zuidhoek industrial estate was operational. Today, Zeelandia occupies 8 hectares there, with about 35,000 square metres of built space.

Exports started early with an importer in Belgium in 1923. After WWII, more countries followed. In the 1970s, export activities were managed more strategically, resulting in strong international growth.

Zeelandia across borders
As a Dutch family business, Zeelandia proudly shares the values of healthy Dutch entrepreneurship far beyond the Netherlands. Bakers in around 100 countries use Zeelandia’s products. In Europe, sales are mainly via subsidiaries and joint ventures; outside Europe, through distributors and agents.