In reality, Sven Kockelmann is an unusually tall man, which in practice sometimes leads to ergonomically unacceptable situations. For example, Albert Heijn’s carts are too low for him.
We only see half of Sven Kockelmann on television, but behind that talk show table an enormous elongated body is hidden. Admittedly with some curves here and there, but still: long. And people with an above-average height sometimes have trouble moving around comfortably in daily practice.
Sven in supermarket
For example, Sven is having trouble shopping at his local neighborhood supermarket, the Albert Heijn. SBS 6 presenter Manuel Venderbos regularly spots the Op1 star there, he says in the AD Media podcast.
That is why Manuel knows that Sven has remained very ordinary. “It’s not that he doesn’t do his own shopping anymore, because I see him regularly in the supermarket.”
Angela de Jong is shocked by this: “Oh, really?”
In his basket
Media journalist Dennis Jansen also finds it a surprise. “And do you also look in his basket? Honestly?”
Manuel: “Yes, I always check his basket.”
Colleague Marcus den Blanken: “Tell me, what’s in it?”
Manuel: “I’ll pay attention.”
Dennis: “No, you know that.”
Manuel: “No, of course I don’t know.”
Invasion of privacy
Angela thinks it’s going too far to reveal the contents of Sven’s shopping basket anyway. “What a huge invasion of your privacy. If you said that, Manuel, you’re really not worth a punch. Really, I think it’s terrible.”
Manuel himself would not like that either, according to the opinion diva. “Suppose there is another podcast and it says: ‘I saw Manuel Venderbos in the supermarket. Do you know what he had in his basket? Three bottles of wine and two bars of chocolate.’”
hunchback
Dennis continues to ask: “Is it at the Albert Heijn?”
Manuel: “Yes.”
Dennis: “Does he have a bag?”
Manuel: “Or does he have one of those burlap sacks?”
Then Manuel reveals that Sven moves through the Appie somewhat hunchbacked. “He does walk a bit… He is a very big man. When you see him on TV… People never know height because they are always sitting at the table. But he is very tall. He walks a little bent behind the cart.”
‘Loves to cook’
It is a sign that Albert Heijn is not responding well to the needs of its stretched fellow man. Marcus points out that Sven must walk with a hunchback because of those low carts. “Yes, he has to, otherwise he can’t reach the cart.”
Angela: “But he also really likes to cook.”
Manuel: “Yes?”
Angela: “Yes, I would love to.”
Other supermarkets in the Netherlands are Boni, EkoPlaza and Poiesz.