Company History

Arie Matze in front of his father's grocery store in Leiden

Since 1899 the Matze family was involved in the “door-to-door” trade in its home village Hazerswoude, close to the city of Leiden. Back then a trolley was used to sell groceries from door to door to the villagers. In 1906 Adam Arie Matze started a grocery shop.

His son, Han Matze, took over the business and moved to Leiden where he opened a second grocery store and – after the second world war – a factory which produced peanut butter and semolina pudding. Later he started a wholesale import business in tea, dried fruit products and colonial food stuff.

In turn his son, Arie Matze, continued the wholesale business in 1969, and later moved to Waddinxveen, where we are still located at present. Arie was the first generation which started exporting to the neighbouring countries Belgium, Luxemburg, France and Germany. After more than 40 years he has become a well-known personality in the food industry with extended trade skills and a large business network.

Today two of his children, Jeannette and Johan Matze, run the company. The trade expertise and knowledge of preserved food products, confectionary, beverages, household goods and toiletries has been carried on to the fourth generation. Arie is still active as a senior adviser passing on his skills.

We as a family consider that we never actually own the family company. We merely look after it for the next generation. Our family spirit is embodied in the following values and beliefs: independence, trust, long-term relationships, service minded, flexibility, international orientated, emphasis on teamwork and getting the job done. These values and beliefs have always represented the very essence of the Matze family and will continue to do so for generations to come.

First Matze grocery store with Josefina (wife of Adam Matze) and their daughters in Hazerswoude	Han Matze with his brother Wim in front of their Ford delivery van
Matze advertising in a local news paper	Han Matze in one of his grocery stores