Van Eerden Foodservice began in 1920 when Andrew Van Eerden formed “Van Eerden Company” to distribute fresh produce to grocers and restaurants in the greater Grand Rapids area. His dedication to finding the freshest fruits and vegetables for his loyal customers led to daily train rides to the Chicago market. It is this commitment to freshness and customer service that has allowed Van Eerden to thrive for over a century.
Now, in its fourth generation of family ownership, Van Eerden Foodservice remains focused on the business principles & values first established by Andrew Van Eerden in 1920. Committed to the philosophy of “service first,” we use a consultative approach to provide unique business solutions to you.
CEO VEC (USA), Inc.
President, Van Eerden Foodservice
President, VE Fresh
Andrew Van Eerden sold his small Grand Rapids grocery store to start Van Eerden Company, a wholesale produce distributor. He traveled twice weekly by train to Chicago for fresh produce and operated a six-day-a-week warehouse to serve customers.
As the grocery landscape changed, Van Eerden expanded into supplying regional supermarket chains. With fewer mom-and-pop retailers and the rise of larger chains, operations transitioned from customer pick-ups to reliable, refrigerated truck deliveries.
Van Eerden Trucking was born when Andy and Harold, sons of Jack Van Eerden, worked side by side to grow the business and reach new customers. Guided by innovation, safety, and a commitment to reliable service, the trucking operation became a major transportation force.
Van Eerden, along with five other independent distributors, co-founded ProAct—a buying, networking, and marketing cooperative sourcing fruits and vegetables from around the world. Establishing an office in the heart of California’s agricultural region created direct access to the freshest, highest-quality produce at the most competitive prices. Today, ProAct has grown into one of the nation’s largest buyers and distributors of fresh produce.
Van Eerden joined UniPro, one of the world’s largest foodservice purchasing cooperatives. Through valuable national partnerships, innovative products, and modern marketing strategies, this partnership elevated Van Eerden’s service, product selection, and pricing for customers.
Van Eerden expanded its produce capabilities with the acquisitions of Frog Holler Produce in 2016 and Preferred Produce in 2017. Frog Holler, a chef-driven produce distributor specializing in fresh fruits and vegetables, and Preferred Produce, a custom produce processing facility, have since grown from serving the Detroit area to supporting Van Eerden’s full customer base.
For the first time in company history, Van Eerden expanded beyond Michigan with the opening of a new distribution center in Fort Wayne, Indiana – doubling warehouse capacity.
Frog Holler Produce is a Detroit-based, chef-driven produce distributor, providing restaurants and businesses throughout the midwest with the finest, freshest specialty produce on the market.
Preferred Fresh Cuts is a Detroit-based produce processing company. Their state-of-the-art facility allows you to save time and labor with their pre-cut produce, engineered to meet your needs.
MAILING ADDRESS
Van Eerden Foodservice
PO Box 3110
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
GRAND RAPIDS SHIPPING ADDRESS
Van Eerden Foodservice
650 Ionia SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
FORT WAYNE SHIPPING ADDRESS
Van Eerden Foodservice
8252 Smith Rd
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
Main Office: 555 555-5555
Product Sales: 555 555-5555
