Sligro Named Presenting Partner of SAIL 2025
SAIL was first organized in 1975 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Amsterdam. In 2025, the city marks its 750th anniversary, SAIL celebrates 50 years, and the event hosts its 10th edition, a triple jubilee. After the cancellation of the 2020 edition due to the pandemic, the milestone celebration was postponed to 2025. This makes the upcoming edition even more special.
From August 20 to 24, 2025, Amsterdam will welcome over 2 million visitors and more than 10,000 ships, including majestic tall ships from around the world, for the largest free public event in the Netherlands.
Sligro Food Group is proud to be a Presenting Partner of SAIL 2025.
This partnership includes:
Exclusive F&B Supplier: Sligro will supply all food and beverage for business arrangements aboard the tall ships.
VIP Experience for Customers: Sligro customers can participate in a unique VIP program at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), including a fully catered culinary experience and a 1.5-hour cruise among the tall ships.
The theme of SAIL 2025 is “United by Waves”, emphasizing connection and celebration. Sligro’s involvement ensures that both behind the scenes and in the spotlight, guests will enjoy top-tier hospitality.
Fairytale-themed dinner show
On Friday, February 7, no fewer than 172 long-serving employees were celebrated in the Sligro Event Hall in Veghel. These team members marked their 12.5, 25, 40, or even 50-year anniversaries with Sligro Food Group in 2024.
The jubilarians, accompanied by their partners, traveled from across the country to Veghel for a fairytale-themed dinner show. The Sligro Event Hall was beautifully decorated in the style of ‘1001 Nights’, with dishes and drinks matching the exotic theme. Entertainment included magician Tariq, who performed magical table-side tricks, and fortune teller Fatima, who promised the guests a sunny future. Henna artists were also available for those who wanted to be adorned.
The main stage featured performances by Tino Martin, followed later in the evening by A-Fever, known from the TV show The Tribute – Battle of the Bands. Their set of ABBA hits kept the dance floor packed. In between, DJ Sultan provided upbeat music. After the festivities, guests from outside the region were transported back to their hotels by bus.
The annual ‘jubilee evening’ is a cherished tradition at Sligro. For decades, jubilarians and their partners have been honored in this way, as a heartfelt thank-you for their contributions to Sligro’s growth and success.
New construction for 'De Kweker' starting soon
With the unveiling of the construction sign at the Food Center Amsterdam, the symbolic start of the new Cash & Carry wholesale outlet for ‘De Kweker’ in Amsterdam took place on Monday, September 29.
An important step
Alderman Van Weyenberg (Land and Development): “Construction is finally starting at the Food Center. It’s a place with a rich history and many stories in Amsterdam. The current business park is transforming into a modern and sustainable mixed-use residential and work area. Businesses come first. It’s important that the companies that feed the city get a new place at the Food Center.”
New building for ‘De Kweker’
‘De Kweker’, part of Sligro Food Group since 2019, has been active at this location since 1949. It has grown into a wholesale supplier for the hospitality industry, offering a wide range of products and proudly collaborating closely with local suppliers.
Kees Kiestra, Director Cash & Carry: “We and our customers are extremely happy to begin construction. For hospitality entrepreneurs in the city, it’s crucial to have access to daily business supplies within the ring and close to the city center. ‘De Kweker’ has always been a great example of ‘the belly of Amsterdam’ and will become even more so with our new Cash & Carry facility.”
Sligro Food Group will begin construction of the new Cash & Carry for 'De Kweker' in November.
New Cash & Carry wholesale outlet in Groningen
The Sligro C&C in Groningen relocated on September 25, 2025.
New location
Sligro had been based at De Hallen in Groningen for many years, but outgrew the space. The new, spacious and modern Sligro branch on Osloweg offers a much better location for customers. Easier to reach from the city and visible from the ring road.
Sustainability
More sustainable, energy-efficient, and fully future-proof. The building is completely off the gas grid, saving approximately 48,000 m³ of gas annually. This results in a reduction of 90 tons of CO₂ emissions. Heat from the cooling system is reused to warm the building, and the system uses a 100% natural refrigerant. The 524 solar panels on the roof generate around 200,000 kWh of green electricity. All lighting is LED, and customers have access to a dual charging station in the parking area.
Product range
Jan Anne Bouma: “Our brand-new location is fully ready for the future. Spacious and offering an extensive assortment. On 5,400 m² of floor space, you’ll find no less than 60,000 products. From fresh meat, game, fish, cheese, vegetables, and fruit to high-end hospitality equipment, specialty beers, and a wine selection with exclusive imports. All tailored to the needs of food professionals and SMEs.”
Donation to the Ronald McDonald House in Groningen
The opening of the new wholesale location was accompanied by a donation to a local charity: the Ronald McDonald House Groningen. Sligro’s branch director Jan Anne Bouma presented a €10,000 cheque to Jolanda Kamphuis, manager of the Ronald McDonald House Groningen. Jolanda responded emotionally: “Oh my goodness, this really moves me! This will help so many families!”
New Cash & Carry wholesale outlet in The Hague
The newly opened Sligro branch on Kerketuinenweg in The Hague, inaugurated on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, replaces two older locations in the city.
Sustainability
Sustainable, energy-efficient, and fully future-proof. The building is completely off the gas grid, and heat from the cooling system is reused to warm the facility. By eliminating gas usage, 90 tons of CO₂ emissions are saved. The cooling system uses a 100% natural refrigerant, and the 950 solar panels on the roof generate approximately 320,000 kWh of green electricity. All lighting is LED.
Product Range
The full Sligro assortment is available, both food and non-food, with a focus on fresh products such as fish, meat, game and poultry, vegetables and fruit, cheese, and a wine selection featuring exclusive imports. All tailored to the needs of food professionals and SMEs.
Donation to the Ronald McDonald House The Hague
To mark the opening of the new Cash & Carry wholesale, a donation was made to a local charity: the Ronald McDonald House The Hague. Sligro branch director Arjen van Nunen recently visited the facility, witnessed the impactful work being done, and was deeply moved: “It’s such a beautiful initiative, we really wanted to contribute.” Joyce van der Helm, manager of the Ronald McDonald House The Hague, accepted the €10,000 cheque at the opening of Sligro Kerketuinen: “Incredible. This will allow us to provide over a hundred overnight stays and properly furnish all basic amenities.”
Koen Slippens 'FoodManager of the Year' 2024
The Food Manager of the Year for 2024 was announced on 14 November 2024 during the National Food Congress in Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus in Scheveningen.
Koen Slippens was present via a live video link - (photo: Jan Willem Houweling)
According to the jury report: "This is the first time that this title has been won by a manager from the food service channel. The jury was particularly impressed by the way that Mr Slippens has steadily built up his business since 2008, in the face of extremely difficult market conditions. Sligro is as solid as a rock, and easily leads the field in the Dutch food service market, as well as having a strong foothold in Belgium. Sligro is a food service provider with not only a modern, efficient online operation but also a network of wholesalers where entrepreneurs in the food service and catering business can draw inspiration for their customers.”
The following criteria determined the jury’s opinion:
The Food Manager of the Year:
- has worked hard to introduce significant innovations within their own organisation;
- has achieved considerable successes thanks to a clear, long-term strategy;
- has helped their organisation to develop and thrive;
- has deployed their creativity to bring about necessary changes in the food sector;
- is a charismatic leader who clearly stands out from other managers;
- is able to forge excellent ties with other parties in the market.
Payment interim dividend
As announced at the presentation of our 2024 half-year figures, we decided to pay an interim dividend, in accordance with our dividend policy.
The interim dividend amounts to €0.30 per share and will be payable on Monday 7 October 2024.
The ex-dividend date is Friday 20 September 2024.
The record date is Monday 23 September 2024.
Payment interim dividend
As announced at the presentation of our 2024 half-year figures, we decided to pay an interim dividend, in accordance with our dividend policy.
The interim dividend amounts to €0.30 per share and will be payable on Monday 7 October 2024.
The ex-dividend date is Friday 20 September 2024.
The record date is Monday 23 September 2024.
GGN-certified fresh salmon
A first in the Dutch food service market: from 8 May 2024, all of SmitVis’ fresh salmon will be GGN-certified. The GGN label stands for sustainability and transparency across the entire supply chain, which benefits both the climate and the salmon. Additionally, salmon farmed in compliance with the GGN standard receives different nutrition compared to regular salmon, which results in higher omega-3 fatty acid levels.
As one of the top labels in the Milieu Centraal foundation’s quality mark guide, GGN has immediately been included in the ‘Eerlijk & Heerlijk’ range that helps Sligro customers make sustainable choices in designing their product range.
SmitVis is Sligro Food Group’s fish processing company.
Sligro awarded certification for environmental management systems
Sligro Food Group Nederland has been awarded the ISO 14001:2015 certificate for the receipt, storage and transport of food and non-food products. When it comes to environmental management systems, ISO 14001:2015 is the international standard.
ISO standard 14001:2015 is geared towards managing and improving environmental performance, both internally within the organisation and across the entire supply chain. The aim is to keep on implementing improvements in the area of the environment and sustainable business practices. Certification under this ISO standard is based on an assessment of an organisation’s current environmental policy, environmental aspects relevant to the organisation, the organisation’s energy efficiency with a view to cutting carbon emissions, and measures the organisation is taking to control or reduce carbon emissions.
Larger companies and governments in particular often stipulate certification as a precondition for tendering for their contracts.
