A Case of - Prominent Hoogerbrugge
“ALWECO is no-nonsense, just like us.”
Growing loose tomatoes is a practice that has become increasingly rare. However, Erik Hoogerbrugge of Prominent Hoogerbrugge in Lepelstraat continues this tradition. He follows the old-school methods but with the use of modern tools such as three CHP (Combined Heat and Power) units. The growing season is unlit, running from December until October, sometimes into November. "We are traditional growers," says Erik Hoogerbrugge, "but we do invest in internal transport, automatic stacking, and a second screen installation."
Erik runs the business, with Prominent as a shareholder. "When my brother left the company, Prominent stepped in," Erik explains. "This ensures long-term continuity, and it’s good to be part of a larger whole. We grow only loose tomatoes, a segment that was missing in Prominent’s portfolio. It’s a win-win situation."
Sustainability of the Business
ALWECO is installing a second screen system on 6.5 hectares in one of the two greenhouses. "In the short term, such an investment pays off more quickly in an energy crisis like the one we’re experiencing now than it would in normal times," says Erik. "And in the long term, you save on energy costs and contribute to the sustainability of your business. We’ve seen good results from other growers with a second screen, so we contacted ALWECO to see what solutions they could offer. Every cubic meter of gas you can save is one worth saving."
Long-Standing Relationship
ALWECO was already involved back in 2003 when they installed the first screen at Hoogerbrugge. Since then, the screens in both greenhouses have been renovated once, and now ALWECO is also installing the second screen. It’s a long-standing relationship. "It’s quite simple," Erik explains. "They do what they promise, and if something doesn’t go as planned, they fix it. No-nonsense, very direct in communication, just like us. And if there’s ever an issue, they come right away. They’re always ready to help. Plus, we get along well with the folks from ALWECO, which also helps."
Continuing to Invest
Erik and Prominent are committed to continuing investments in the business. "In the future, we also want to connect to the heat project in the Steenbergen horticultural area where we are located. We will then receive residual heat and pure CO2 from the waste incineration plant in Roosendaal. This will allow us to continue growing traditional loose tomatoes using the latest methods in a sustainable way. Which is a great thing."