The energy bill went from 1700 to 7000 euros per month and the raw material prices were over. For baker Koen Renders from Eindhoven, the energy crisis, which started in 2022, was an exciting time. The Eindhoven family business is now growing like Kool. “We just slipped in between.”
The energy crisis was an exciting time for the baker, which has been around since 1944. “We wondered then: what are we going to do? Are we going to sell the tent or are we going to continue. Fortunately, we ended up surviving and the monthly amount was able to secure at an acceptable level,” Koen Renders now looks back on that time.
A high energy bill was not the only problem. “The raw materials for bread and banquet also rise. It is only possible that we pass it on to the customer. It is almost impossible to do. It is either from my wallet or from the wallet of people who want to buy our products. That is the tough reality.”
He barely survived the energy crisis, but the Coronapandemie caused much more customers, says Koen: “People wanted to get out for a while. At one point there was a gigantic row of waiting every Saturday. We even opened an extra issue counter at the time.”
Despite all the setbacks in recent years, the baker sees the future in the bright. The small store was renovated and modernized. The bakery at the store almost grows out of its jacket. “We still like it and the company is growing, especially after the renovation, also in the number of customers and we hope to continue that.”
“We have been here for over eighty years. We prefer not to leave here and the store will never leave here. The bakery will be too small. We have to be able to get rid of our things, so we look at a solution.”
The baker’s compartment was brought in with Koen. “Sometimes the night work costs me crumb, but it also yields a lot. With warm weather we can lie down at the pool around two o’clock in the afternoon.”
“What I find so beautiful about it is the traditional thing that we make as much as possible ourselves,” says Koen passionately. “That gives honor to your work and you will see that what people get. Things you are proud of often also sell best.”
