Grandpa Jan and grandma Hennie Bouwman once started selling a piece of bacon. “I always heard from grandma that she still knew exactly who the very first customer was in the store and that it was a bit creepy. It was all new,” says Veldman. What was the very last order? “I wouldn’t know, Corry said it, but I forgot. It must have been a piece of grilled sausage. The counter was empty, so it must be something that was taken.”
Behind the store, in the slaughterhouse, Veldman saw the profession changing. “A lot has changed in the field of animal welfare. And I understand that very well, a lot has improved, including myself. I am also much more aware of animal welfare.”
But occasionally the checks go too far, says Veldman. In his early years, a stamp from the judge was a lot faster to get. “Last June I had four Mondays on which I slaughtered, on three Mondays there were extra checks. Are you standing with three men who all have more than fifty years of experience slaughtering, while two people with their hands behind their backs allow an hour and a half to look, in addition to the other checks you already have. That’s not pretty anymore.”
Veldman no longer has to worry about that. He can focus on selling the buildings. He is also busy with another job. “We’ve received a lot of emails and messages from customers, I’m answering them all. That feels good.”