Martin Aaldering – CEO Deko Holland

The Aaldering family

A SUCCESS STORY

The Aaldering family, consisting of ten brothers, could well be described as a success story. All readers of this magazine already know about Fons, the eldest of the “clan”, as the founder and owner of our beloved Aaldering Vineyards & Wines – Luxury Lodges. In every issue of the upcoming editions, we will have a face-to-face conversation with one of the brothers. In this issue: Martin Aaldering, fourth in line.

Ten brothers, ten stories, ten illustrious

careers. The stage is set for you, Martin Aaldering. What’s your story?

“After my military service I ended up in commerce. After having worked for one of my brothers for about five years, I started working in sales at a technical company and eventually started as an independent entrepreneur. The next step was to buy a number of companies abroad and mould them into a workable whole. After a few years, I sold this company to a foreign multinational and bought a Dutch company to have something to keep me busy. In the past, the name of this company was Van Berkel’s Patent, manufacturer of scales and cutting machines. Now the company is called Deko Holland and still makes slicers which are exported to 40 different countries.”

Is the love of the hospitality industry and doing business something you were brought up on at home?

“We didn’t all enjoy the hospitality industry, but we do enjoy doing business.”

Active involvement in your company and your people, it seems to be the greatest common denominator between the brothers. Doing nothing is not an option. How is that expressed in your case?

“Our employees have always been the company’s capital. Every entrepreneur should know that. Commitment to what you do is a prerequisite for success. Doing nothing is a habit our parents didn’t like; it makes you lazy. That too is something we were brought up on.”

“MARTIN AALDERING IS CEO AND OWNER OF DEKO HOLLAND, IN ARNHEM, THE NETHERLANDS; A MANUFACTURING COMPANY SELLING MEAT SLICERS. THEY EXPORT THEIR MACHINES TO 40 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THEIR SLOGAN IS: FOR THE PERFECT SLICE” You know South Africa and the estate of your brother Fons and his wife Marianne. How do you look at it?

“We travelled to South Africa for the first time in the 1980s. Our daughters, who are now over 40, still have the best memories of this trip. For us, it was the introduction to a country where you feel that people live with passion. Our experience with the wines from southern Africa was very surprising at the time, and we saw the potential. Now, forty years later, the market has matured, and the quality of the wines is of a high standard. Understandably, brother Fons found it necessary to “go into wine” there, and not without success. After years of experimenting and improving we now see that the Aaldering wines have earned themselves a good place in the market. The development continues, and that is a clear sign that Fons and Marianne put their heart and soul into improving the quality of the Aaldering wines. I therefore look with pride at what has been achieved in a relatively short period of time, also in terms of branding. But there is also a downside for us as a family. We hardly dare to drink any other wine, but considering the quality that is not a punishment either. Besides, I think it’s great that daughter Jacqueline and son-in-law Gert-Jan are now continuing the business.”

What is your favourite and most striking family anecdote?

“There are many, but one of the oldest and best-known is the brother who had to light the coal stove and did not notice that it was still smouldering. He threw a bottle of spirit in the stove after which the whole thing exploded and the chimney fell off the roof. We were immediately wide awake on that cold winter morning. We all know which brother it was, but we keep silent about it, of course.”