Jamael Food Group
Jamael Food Group N.V. is a Dutch food company headquartered in Driel, the Netherlands, specialised in plant-based foods including preserved vegetables and fruits, spreads, sauces, fermented products, and legume-based foods. The group describes itself as having operated for more than 150 years as an intermediary between growers and retailers, and positions itself as a one-stop supplier of plant-based food products for European retail and foodservice markets. Its oldest operating subsidiary, Baltussen N.V., was founded in 1868 and is considered the oldest existing canning factory in the Netherlands.
Company profile
| Legal name | Jamael Food Group N.V. |
| Headquarters | Honingveldsestraat 7, 6665 CA Driel, Netherlands |
| Founded | c. 1868 (via Baltussen); group operating for 150+ years |
| Focus | Plant-based preserved foods, organic products |
| Tagline | Beter eten, gemakkelijk gemaakt (Better eating, made easy) |
Group structure
Jamael Food Group operates as a holding company with multiple subsidiaries and brands. The group’s stated mission is to create “a healthy system of food production and consumption from land to customer,” addressing the environmental and health impacts of the current food system.
Known brands and subsidiaries within the group include:
| Brand / Subsidiary | Focus |
|---|---|
| Baltussen | Preserved vegetables and fruits in glass jars; private label for European retail |
| Boon | Bean-based foods for retail and foodservice; plant-based transition products |
| Green Ways | Part of Jamael group; further details not published |
| Holland Special Foods | Part of Jamael group; further details not published |
| AVL | Part of Jamael group; further details not published |
Baltussen N.V.
Baltussen N.V., founded in 1868, is the group’s oldest operating entity and the oldest existing canning factory in the Netherlands. It is located at the same address as the group headquarters in Driel.
Products
Baltussen produces over 450 articles of preserved vegetables and fruits, packaged in glass containers of multiple sizes. Representative products include:
- Chickpeas (kikkererwten)
- Red cabbage (rode kool)
- Haricots verts (sperziebonen)
- Applesauce (appelmoes)
Products are heat-treated without chemical preservatives, retaining nutrients while achieving the microbial safety required for shelf-stable canned and jarred goods.
Sourcing and sustainability
Baltussen expresses a preference for organically grown ingredients and, where possible, regionally sourced raw materials. Glass packaging is used as the primary format, cited for recyclability and product transparency.
Production and organisation
Baltussen employs approximately 40 staff members, with approximately half working in shift-based production. The company describes itself as maintaining the atmosphere of a family business, with short decision-making lines. It produces private-label products for retailers across Europe.
Boon
Boon is a Jamael Food Group brand focused on bean-based food products, with the stated purpose of “giving beans the spotlight in the transition to a more plant-based diet.” The brand positions beans as a high-protein, high-fibre, low-environmental-footprint food category suited to reducing meat consumption.
Boon serves two market segments:
- Retail: consumer-facing packaged bean products under the Boon and Boon Mini product lines
- Foodservice: a dedicated assortment for professional kitchen and catering use
Market position
Jamael Food Group targets European retail and foodservice channels, producing primarily private-label goods alongside its own branded portfolio. The group’s one-stop-shop model covers production, logistics, product development, and sales, enabling retail customers to source a range of plant-based preserved and processed foods from a single supplier.
The emphasis on organic production and plant-based foods places the group within a growing segment of the European food market, driven by consumer interest in sustainable and minimally processed food products.