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Thomas Spekschoor has been plant manager at Vetipak Oss (Menhirweg) since September 2024. At this location, we co-pack primarily and secondarily for food and confectionery customers. Thomas is particularly fascinated by the multi-faceted and dynamic nature of his work.
Thomas, tell us how you came to be at Vetipak?
“After fourteen years in the printing industry, I was ready for a new challenge. When I saw the Vetipak job posting, I was immediately interested. I mean, I’ve always been interested in the food industry, but the duties and responsibilities especially appealed to me. For a start, these aligned well with my experience, including as a plant manager. And when I found out just how great the atmosphere was, things moved quickly.”
Can you be more specific about the things that appealed to you?
“Right away during the first interview, I observed what being a family business means for Vetipak: it’s an ambitious company with a strong focus on people. The corporate culture is pleasant, and there are many activities and plenty of commitment from the management. There was a very clear feeling of ‘we can achieve more together’, and that’s exactly my philosophy.”
‘’Thanks to the people around me, I settled in quickly’’
How do you feel about your first year?
“I feel great about it, and when I look back, that feeling was there right from the start during my induction period. Ynno van Erp showed me the ropes perfectly, as did all the other colleagues too. This industry was completely new to me, but thanks to the people around me, I settled in quickly.”
What does your position involve?
“Oh wow, how much time do you have? In short, I manage our plant. I don’t do this alone, of course – I’m part of a great team, and we work together on directing our operations and implementing our commercial strategy. We also have frequent consultations with our valued customers, aimed at building a bright future together.”
What sorts of things do you talk about?
“Well, the development of our machinery, for example. The next step is further automation, along with investing in dedicated lines for specific customers. You need quite a bit of courage to do that. But that’s another great thing about Vetipak: we’re allowed to stick our necks out, and there’s plenty of room to develop and capitalize on opportunities. Once we’ve come up with a plan and considered it carefully, we’re able to move very fast to implement it.”
‘’You have to keep moving if you want to stay ahead’’
What other opportunities do you see ahead?
“We would like to expand further into the food segment. Aside from confectionery, there are many other segments where our impact and quality could help us stand out. The dietary supplement market is just one example. You have to keep moving if you want to stay ahead of the game and strengthen your competitive position.”
But that’s the sort of work that’s never “finished”
“And thank goodness for that! I actually need stimulating, dynamic and challenging work. And to my mind, although I’ve been working here for almost a year already, I feel like I’ve only just got started. Time is flying, we’ve got plenty of plans and the work environment couldn’t be better. I feel completely at home here.”
