More than
just food
Purpose and values:
It all starts here
At Vermaat, our purpose is simple yet profound: to bring people together every day to enjoy food and beverage responsibly.
We believe in doing things our own way, guided by a strong culture that’s at the heart of everything we do. Our core values aren’t just words; they’re our compass, steering every decision we make, both as a company and as individuals.
Personal
We’re great listeners, pay attention, and truly empathize. We meet you where you are and help you go further.
Thoughtful.
Empathetic.
Involved.
Inventive
We’re always looking for new ways to improve, ensuring you get the best solution every time. We think ahead and embrace continuous learning.
Eager to learn.
Solution-driven.
Pioneering.
Skilled
In our field, we’re passionately committed to quality, constantly striving for excellence in every detail.
Qualified.
Passionate.
Skillfull.
Driven
We’re ambitious and eager to win, pushing ourselves to be the best version of Vermaat, every single day.
Eager to win.
Ambitious.
Energetic.
Entrepreneurial
We’re always on the lookout for new opportunities, transforming them into possibilities and fearlessly leading our business forward.
Discovering.
Developing.
Adventurous.
Let’s
make it
yours
Mission and vision:
Shaping the future of flavor
The world of food and beverage is always evolving, and so are we. In fact, we aim to be ahead of the curve, constantly investing in innovations that make life easier, more enjoyable, and more satisfying. Our goal? To not just meet, but exceed your expectations, every single time.
This means staying culinary on-trend, crafting exciting new flavors with the finest seasonal ingredients. From a hospitality viewpoint, we strive for truly unique and memorable guest experiences that perfectly match every occasion. And from our organizational perspective, we’re dedicated to making a positive, sustainable impact for the well-being of our guests, our clients, and our planet.
Our journey: From humble beginnings to European leader
Vermaat began its story in 1978 as a small family grocery shop in Utrecht. Since then, we’ve grown into one of the largest food and hospitality organizations in the Netherlands. More recently, we’ve expanded our reach across Northwest Europe, becoming a significant presence in France and Germany, and disrupting the industry with the innovative Join Program concept.
Today, we’re recognized for offering premium quality food and beverages to our guests. Our distinctive vision for catering has allowed us to build extensive partnerships across Western Europe. Every day, we proudly provide culinary solutions for over 200,000 guests in corporate environments, leisure venues, hospitals, travel hubs, delivery services, and special events.
Executive Board
Our Executive Board consists of three directors: the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Legal, Compliance and Sustainability Officer.
Our Board members
Rick
Zeelen
CEO, Vermaat Group
Rick has been with Vermaat since 2005, serving as CEO since 2015 and previously as CCO. He was also CEO at Karsten HorecaGrootverbruik for seven years and held positions at Kaptein, Frozen Quality and Logistics. He brings over 25 years of industry experience.
Joyce
Winnubst
General Counsel, Vermaat Group
Joyce joined Vermaat in 2021. Prior to this, she was an executive board member at TMF Group and TNT, and an M&A lawyer at Allen & Overy.
Geert
van Iwaarden
CFO, Vermaat Group
Geert joined Vermaat in 2024. His previous roles include CFO Mexico and Greater Caribbean at Unilever, CFO at Scotch & Soda (three years), and Royal Swinkels Family Brewers (five years). He has over 25 years of industry experience.
Corporate Governance
We strongly believe that good governance is fundamental to the effective management of our business, its long-term sustainability, and continued success. We closely monitor developments in corporate governance and the applicability of relevant corporate governance rules for Vermaat.
Ultimate holding company
Vincent Topco B.V. is the ultimate parent company of our operational entities. The majority of the shares in Vincent Topco B.V. are held by the Bridgepoint Europe VI Fund and Partners Group. The remaining shares are held by management indirectly via Stichting Administratiekantoor Management Vincent.
Governance structure
We operate with a two-tier governance structure.
The Executive Board consists of three directors: the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Legal, Compliance and Sustainability Officer.
- Rick Zeelen
- Geert van Iwaarden
- Joyce Winnubst
Our Executive Board holds ultimate responsibility for the overall management of the Vermaat Group. This includes achieving the Vermaat Group’s objectives, strategy (encompassing any long-term, medium-term, and short-term business plans with operational and financial objectives and parameters to be applied), and managing the accompanying risk profile (ensuring that effective internal risk management and control systems are in place and reported on). They are also responsible for performance trends and results, and for addressing environmental, social, and governance issues relevant to the business.
Our Supervisory Board is responsible for supervising, monitoring, and advising the Executive Board. It is assisted by two principal committees: the Audit, Risk & Ethics Committee and the Remuneration & Nomination Committee, each serving a distinct purpose. These committees advise and support the Supervisory Board.
The Supervisory Board comprises six members: two or more members are appointed upon nomination by Bridgepoint, one by Partners Group, one by management, and two independent members are appointed by the General Meeting of Shareholders.
- Jean-Marc Huët (Chairman)
- Chris Busby
- Jérôme Tafani
- Jürgen Diegruber
- Michiel Muller
- Olivier van Riet Paap
We strive for diversity and inclusion across our organization. We recognize the benefits of diversity, including gender balance. However, we understand that gender is only one aspect of diversity. The Executive Board aims to improve gender diversity among senior leadership. It has set a gender diversity target ratio for the end of 2027 of at least 33% female and 33% male members for the combined senior leadership of the Vermaat Group. Both Vermaat’s majority shareholders and the Supervisory Board endeavor to support any appointments to achieve the set target ratios, provided Vermaat is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to hiring the most qualified employees irrespective of race and gender.
As of December 31, 2024, the combined supervisory and executive board had one female member. The percentage female members in the executive board is 33,3%. The Supervisory and Executive Board (combined) have one female member. The percentage female members in the combined country management boards of the Netherlands, France and Germany is 35,3% as at 31 December 2024.
