In this podcast, Pieter Duijs, founder of ThuysVers, talks about his journey from greengrocer to a successful entrepreneur in the world of online meal delivery. Growing up in a family with a rich history in the vegetable business, it was a logical step for Pieter to turn his passion for healthy eating into a business. What started as a modest idea to make the Netherlands eat healthier and easier grew into ThuysVers, a company that delivers healthy ready-to-eat meals directly to consumers' homes.
The ThuysVers concept
ThuysVers distinguishes itself by offering meals that consist of 60% vegetables. Pieter explains that this not only offers a healthy alternative to traditional ready meals, but also responds to the needs of modern consumers who have less and less time to cook. The meals are freshly prepared and delivered at the time desired by the customer, providing ultimate convenience.
The challenges of growing
A key lesson Pieter has learned during his entrepreneurial journey is the importance of phased growth. Originally, ThuysVers started with deliveries in Amsterdam and slowly expanded to surrounding areas. However, the challenge arose when the company decided to expand nationwide using third-party delivery services. This led to problems such as delayed deliveries and damaged packages, which ultimately affected customer satisfaction.
After several failures with external delivery partners, Pieter decided to take matters into his own hands. He did this by setting up in-house delivery and starting to deliver himself. Although setting up your own fleet presents new challenges within a company, it has more advantages than disadvantages. For example, as a company you are more flexible because you are less dependent during the last mile and there is higher customer satisfaction by meeting expectations. To that end, he leveraged his network and ensured that all orders were delivered on time, resulting in a better customer experience and lower costs.
Innovations and future plans
In addition to home meal delivery, ThuysVers has also invested in innovative solutions such as the “healthy meal wall. These smart refrigerators, placed in offices, allow employees to purchase healthy meals without having to order in advance. This concept is based on Pieter's desire to make healthy food more accessible to everyone, even during busy work lives.
When asked where ThuysVers will be in five years, Pieter resolutely answers that he wants to set the standard for healthy ready meals in the Netherlands. The goal is to break the negative stigma surrounding ready meals and prove that convenience and health can go hand in hand.
About RouteLogic
RouteLogic is ThuysVers' software partner, helping the company keep its logistics processes running smoothly. With RouteLogic's software, ThuysVers can plan efficient delivery routes and ensure that customers are automatically and properly informed of their order and receive their meals on time. This partnership contributes to the continuous improvement of the customer experience at ThuysVers.
This is just a taste of the inspiring story of Pieter Duijs and ThuysVers. For the full experience and all the details, we encourage you to listen to the entire podcast episode on Spotify.
Listen to the podcast for all the details.
