THE ROOTS OF BERG

12,5 YEARS OF BERG!

With feet in the clay and socks on in the office – Wichert van den Berg founded Berg 12.5 years ago and is still firmly grounded. We met him at his kitchen table, where everything began 12.5 years ago. Wichert takes us back to his youth and shares how Berg developed into a leading supplier of hygienic bedding products, roughage, and by-products both domestically and internationally.

Where does your entrepreneurial spirit come from?
W: As a little boy, I was already active in trading chickens and rabbits. Actually, since I could walk, haha. I bought them at the livestock market and then sold them to people in the neighborhood. Later, I added sheep and goats, and soon I had my own small farm with related trade.

When did you specialize in feed products?
W: I was about 19 years old when I first traded straw and hay. I bought it from traders and then resold it. Eventually, I thought: I can import this myself from abroad. So, I traveled to Germany, Belgium, and England to buy straw and hay. In this regard, I was really a pioneer.

Did you do all of this by yourself at the time?
W: Yes, I did all of that by myself back then. When things started going really well 12.5 years ago and I couldn’t handle it alone anymore, I founded Berg. At that time, we said: If we continue with this trade, we want to be among the top 5 companies in the Netherlands. Today, we can proudly say that we’ve achieved that. Since 2012, we have hired staff. First, someone for administration, and shortly afterward, someone for planning. Henry, who still works with us today, also joined and supported me in sales.

What were the biggest challenges in the early days, and how did you overcome them?
W: The toughest part was primarily building a name. Back then, we were, of course, completely unknown. I didn’t take over a business; I started from scratch. I learned through trial and error – just doing it! It was real pioneering work, and our entrepreneurial spirit made us big. This mentality is still felt among our employees today.

What products were part of Berg’s range at the beginning?
W: We started with straw and (grass seed) hay, and later other bedding types like flax were added. After that, we gradually added more by-products and organic products to our range. The latest addition is customized bedding mixes, such as with lime or BeddingFX (clay minerals), which we’ve been making for our customers since 2017.

How do you think dairy farming has developed over the past 12.5 years, and what role has Berg played in this?
W: Dairy farming has become much more professional over the past 12.5 years. Animal welfare has also improved. Berg has supported this change, particularly through focusing on hygienic lying areas, leading to a focus on customized bedding products.
I think we can be proud of how we advise our customers and contribute to animal health and the economic success of farmers.
Moreover, at Berg, we don’t just focus on the lying area but on the entire cycle in dairy farming. This also includes fertilization and soil health. Our challenge now is to continue optimizing this cycle so that the dairy industry can evolve on all levels. We remain pioneers, developing products and searching for new market opportunities. If a manufacturer has excess product, thanks to our expertise and network, we can usually find the right buyer – and vice versa. If the market demands a product, we look for the right supplier through our network.

What are you most proud of when you look back at the past 12.5 years?
W: I think it’s great to see that we’re a stable company where employees take responsibility and work independently. Things run smoothly – even when I’m not around. The staff is the capital of Berg, and I’m very proud of that!

You briefly mentioned it earlier: the entrepreneurial mentality. How would you describe the company culture at Berg, and how important was it for your success?
W: At Berg, we have an open company culture, and we work closely together to achieve the best possible result for our customers. Everyone values long-term relationships – both with our customers and suppliers.
We’re not interested in short-term profit. For us, it’s important to be a reliable business partner. This attitude has played a crucial role in our success.

Where do you see the greatest opportunities and challenges for the future?
W: Our greatest opportunities lie in the rest of Europe. In the coming years, we want to make our name known abroad as well. There are still many opportunities in the Netherlands – especially in the stall bedding sector. We will remain innovative and continue to focus on animal health and relieving farmers’ workload.
We want to truly alleviate our customers with our products. Additionally, we plan to set up more production sites in Europe for our customized bedding products, so we can ultimately serve the entire European market.

What would you like to tell your customers and partners on the occasion of the anniversary?
W: I’d like to emphasize that despite the growth of our company, we still place personal contact with our customers and partners as our top priority and seek dialogue. We’re always open for a coffee, a good conversation, and personal advice.
We continue to focus on long-term relationships to shape an agricultural future together with our customers and partners, where animal health, welfare, and productivity are at the forefront.