Our story
Organic,
affordable,accessible
and available
Our passion for organic food
No use of colourings, flavour enhancers, preservatives and other additives. Cows, sheep and goats walking comfortably outside. In 1983, Frans Andringa sought contact with local, dedicated farmers and became a distributor of organic cheese. A wonderful range of organic cheeses from Friesland was created under the Fryslaner brand. From Blue de Wolvega (blue mould cheese) to young and mature (goat) cheese.
Meanwhile, we - Folmer and Bjorn Andringa - continue the company. As brothers, we share the same passion and ideals. We combine this with innovative strength, modern and cost-effective processes and a customer-oriented approach. Over the past 30 years, our family business has grown into a multifunctional production company with only organic food products. From organic chips and snacks, fruit and vegetable preserves to vegetarian, oriental and Asian specialities!
Our mission
make organic food affordable
accessible and available
In 1983, Frans Andringa started selling cheese to local shopkeepers with regional products and delicacies. Under the Fryslaner brand, we sold our specialities Blue Wolvega and Rode Fries, among others. Since then, our family business (based in Wolvega, Friesland) has expanded to include a wide range of fresh products, from organic crisps and delicacies to tasty products for oriental cuisine. Based on the same conviction, namely making organic food affordable, accessible and available and thus contributing to a better world.
We do this by nature. We source our products from close by. We produce as sustainably as possible. We enjoy contributing to circular agriculture and restoring biodiversity.
Quality guarantee
Targeted research, our experience and expertise enable us to pursue the highest levels of quality. With our team, we are working daily to ensure the quality of our products and, if necessary, to improve products or processes. Our internal quality system and our intensive screening of suppliers are a guarantee of quality.
Food safety
Onze productielocatie is gecertificeerd volgens een GFSI-erkende norm (Global Food Safety Initiative) namelijk FSCC22000. Hiermee voldoet FZ Organic Food aan de hoogste eisen op het gebied van kwaliteit en voedselveiligheid.Our production site is certified to a GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) recognised standard namely FSSC22000. This enables FZ Organic Food to meet the highest quality and food safety requirements.
100% Organic
In addition to food safety, we are SKAL certified which guarantees that all products are 100% organic. We only make organic products. All our products are therefore SKAL certified.
Local ingredients
We prefer to source our raw materials close by. And will therefore buy locally wherever possible. In this way, we want to make a possitive contribution to a climate-neutral perspective (low foodprint), local economy, labour market and society.
Innovation and development
Following the latest trends and developing (product)
concepts to new insights into nutrition and health or optimising the production
process; we pay attention to innovation. This way of working is one of the
pillars of the company's success and we are proud of it. This makes us an ideal
strategic partner for putting together a strong product range or developing
innovative product concepts.
Collaboration
We strongly believe in the power of collaboration. In our vision, innovation is the result of a creative process in which the knowledge and experience of different disciplines lead to the best result. We translate this vision into tailor-made Private Label development processes with our (potential) customers, strategic R&D cooperation with preferred suppliers and various partnerships with research and educational institutions. Everything is aimed at developing a product (range) or concept that is distinctive in the market and meets a consumer need.
Research and development
We have extensive knowledge of and years of experience in product development. With our own R&D department, we are able to follow market developments, remain trendsetters in the market and continuously introduce innovative concepts. The result: regularly successful product launches!
Flexibility
Our flexibility has become one of our key qualities. A scalable and multifunctional production system, reliable suppliers and our experienced staff enable us to anticipate changes in the market. Our organisation is characterised by a hands-on mentality, thinking in solutions and a flat structure, allowing us to switch quickly. This allows us to offer existing and potential customers a high degree of flexibility and effectiveness, a short time-to-market and excellent delivery performance.
Start of our family business
The Andringa family starts selling cheese from the Uniabuurt neighbourhood in Leeuwarden. Around 1965, we move to the Westerkade in Leeuwarden.
3rd generation in family business
Frans Andringa and his brother take over the daily operations and sell cheese in the northern provinces in the Netherlands (Groningen / Friesland).
From mainstream to organic cheese
Frans is passionate about organic food and increasingly inspired by macrobiotic cuisine. He researches supply and talks to farmers working organically.
Supply of organic cheese in Germany could be better!
He also investigates the German market. Here, the range of beautiful organic products appears to be very limited. Frans decided to let a shopowner in Germany taste a genuine organic cheese from Groningen.
A wholesaler in Germany within 3 months
The retailer was immediately sold. From then on, Frans crossed the border weekly with a trailer carrying his organic cheese from the region. And later with a truck. Soon Frans built up a serious distribution network. Sales of cheese expanded to include tasty accompanying organic products, such as; jam, honey, peanut butter.
First range of processed organic products
At German food fairs, we were the first to be able to offer processed organic products, such as jams and spreads. And it was an instant success!
Yakso, everything for your Asian (veggie) dishes
Already inspired by macrobiotic cuisine, we came in contact with a small-scale production of products for Asian cuisine on a subsistence farm in 1985. We were immediately inspired by the beautiful pure ingredients you can make the most delicious dishes with! This is the beginning of our Yakso brand.
Moving to Wolvega, Friesland
Our products are loved and the business grows. We need
more space.
In 1989, we moved to Friesland. Here - from Wolvega - we can expand our production.
Bionova and Biofan
Sales of our sweet breakfast products (jam, marmalade) and flavourings (mustard, ketchup) are going very well. Our own brand Bionova is joining them. We make Bionova products especially for the health food channel. We developed the Biofan brand, with an organic offering for retail.
Trafo crisps and snacks
We are introduced to a responsible way of producing crisps. We are immediately enthusiastic and get to work. We started looking for organic potatoes, oil for frying and foil to wrap the chips in. That is the beginning of our A-brand Trafo crisps. Now a very established brand in health food stores.
4th generation Andringa
Brothers Folmer and Bjorn Andringa, the current owners of FZ Organic Food, are continuing their father's pioneering work. We now make around 500 products with 65 people, for some 40 countries.
Innovation price 'light chips' drives production expansion
Our production is expanded with a vacuum oven, allowing us to make light chips. This wins us the innovation prize at the Biofach in Nuremberg in 2005. We also make hand-cooked crisps and expand our range to include vegetables crisps and legumes crisps.
New extension and solar panels on the roof
In 2017, we will enlarge the warehouse. With this, we increase the storage space, as well as the shipping area. And we immediately have extra space for solar panels! In 2020, another warehouse is attached and 2 loading docks are added.
Local
A cooperative of local organic farmers can supply us with good potatoes and other vegetables almost all year round. Without the use of preservatives!
Everything is and remains organic and tastier!
You can use E-numbers to create an effect that is attractive to consumers. We don't do that. We look for it in the production method. Deep-frying in a vacuum, for instance. That means less fat and is also tastier, because natural ingredients are protected.
Our products as an addition
to your product range?
Get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the possibilities!