Where others start a catering business with a partner or a friend, the Kroezes simply do so with the whole family. Father Harrie, children Anouk, Nick and Maikel, ‘son-in-law’ Lody and ‘daughter-in-law’ Rosalinde all contribute to running two coffee bar franchise Barista businesses in Emmen and Hardenberg. A third branch will soon be added in Klazienaveen.
The family history in the catering industry starts with Dal Baffo, the Italian restaurant in the Emmer Weerdingerstraat of the striking Giampaolo Pintus, the restaurateur who was as famous in Emmen and the surrounding area for his cuisine as for his mustache.
Maikel, the eldest of the children, got his first part-time job there. He ends up at Pintus through his dad. At the time, Harrie was in the insurance industry with an office near Dal Baffo and knew Pintus well, that’s why. “At one point he asked: Shouldn’t Nick also be working?” says Harrie. “Is he just like his brother? Then he can start right away.”
Anouk, who used to work washing dishes elsewhere, was then immediately allowed to follow up. And so it happened that the three young Kroezes made their first kilometers in the catering industry together.
Yet not everyone chose a career in the catering industry. Maikel switched to the insurance world after eight years. “For me it was always a side job. I called it a ‘grown-up job’ when I started working for an insurer. I now like to come as a guest and be served, haha.”
Anouk found her way through training as a teaching assistant and psychologist, but eventually found her place in the catering industry again. “I actually felt out of place until Nick allowed me to get back to work at Barista. The contact with the people and the appreciation you get in return if you make them happy. That just feels good.”
Nick, on the other hand, could no longer be separated from the catering industry. After training as a host at Drenthe College, he started his own Barista Café in 2020 in the characteristic building of the former Thedinga garage in Emmen.
“I was looking for something that could not yet be found in Emmen. Moreover, I wanted something for myself, but in such a way that it could be combined with a family. Because I now had a child.” Day catering with good coffee as an overtone was still lacking in the Butterfly City. Barista offered just that.
When Nick heard through the head office that there was an opportunity for another business in Hardenberg, he immediately thought of sister Anouk and her partner Lody van Vegten. “I initially wanted to do it on the side, but in the end it’s difficult to be in two places at the same time.”
Lody in particular thought twice about whether this was the step for him. He was born in Alkmaar, but his family moved to Emmen when he was nine because of his father’s work. “I already knew then that I wanted to go into the catering industry. Because my grandmother could cook so well,” he smiles.
After his chef training, he immediately ended up in the profession and started working in the kitchen at Hotel ten Cate. He then gets to know Anouk, the two have now been together for 15 years.
“Anouk and I now have children and I was unsure whether evening work could still be combined with a young family. So I knocked on Nick’s door and asked if I could work for him.” No sooner said than done. Since then, Anouk and Lody have been running the Hardenberg branch, while Nick still contributes ideas.