Insiders : Wim Duijvestein
“In the old greenhouse, you’d bump your head against the gutter.”
Wim Duijvestein was once Leo Alsemgeest’s first customer, the founder of ALWECO. This was more than thirty years ago when Wim was still a flower grower in Honselersdijk. Today, Wim has been working as a driver for ALWECO for three years. “Yes, Leo called me after I sold my garden,” Wim recalls. “He said, ‘Why don’t you come work with me driving the truck?’ I thought it sounded good, and we get along great.”
That’s how Wim ended up with our company. “It doesn’t matter who I see at ALWECO, or if I’m driving around for ALWECO visiting growers, it’s always like old friends catching up. It’s always been like that. Leo built my first greenhouse when I took over my uncle’s business. In that old greenhouse, you’d bump your head against the gutter—it was that low. We had asked two greenhouse builders to come. One of them arrived and immediately started yelling at the dogs. If you couldn’t get along with the dogs, you were done with the boss too. Leo was completely fond of those dogs, did what he promised, and was always there if something went wrong.”
Before the horn was put on the hook
“It’s been good between us ever since,” Wim continues. “Whenever Leo came up with something new, like those new blocks for the screen or a new truck, he’d always stop by our place. Even when he bought a new car, he’d come right over, proud as could be. That’s how it was. And the work got done—no fuss, just action. Of course, we’d tease each other sometimes, but if something went wrong, he was already in your greenhouse before you even hung up the phone, you know?”
Everyone is good with each other here
From being a regular customer, Wim is now an employee. “I’m familiar with the company culture here,” he explains his choice to work at ALWECO after he stopped farming. “It’s really nice; everyone gets along well, and it’s always cheerful. I’ve been driving the bus for ALWECO for a few years now. I deliver everything from screens to aerial work platforms to rail carts in the Netherlands and Belgium. And because I was a grower myself, it’s nice to chat with all the growers I visit. You understand the industry and the jargon, which I really appreciate.”
Taking care of the equipment
“It’s a great company,” Wim concludes. “With great people. They take good care of their equipment and are very good at those little innovations. That was already the case when they were building in my own business back then. They’d say, ‘Let’s try doing it this way,’ and it would be a bit different, but they were usually right. They think along with you, solve problems immediately, and are always ready to help. That’s what I like about ALWECO.”