Four generations of 'Kennis, Kunde and Karakter' (Knowledge, Skill and Character)

De Hoop Mengvoeders has a rich history that goes back to the beginning of the previous century. At the beginning of 1900, Gerrit-Jan Buunk bought a farm on the Wittebrink (the current location of De Hoop) where he established a bakery, a pub and a store. Firstly, he purchased his rye and wheat flour from the grain mill in the Wittebrink. However he soon decided to build a private mill so that he was no longer dependent on the wind. Construction was finished in 1906 and grandmother Buunk suggested the name "De Hoop" (The Hope); in the hope of a blessing. Beside flour for the bakery, the millstones ground singular grains for pigs, chickens and cattle for the farmers in the surrounding area.

The son of the founder, Evert-Jan Buunk, took over the activities of the mill in 1939. During World War II he cultivated a lot of goodwill under the nearby farmers so that, despite the measures taken by the occupying forces, the necessary grain was provided. After the war, the clientele grew steadily. At this time the compound feed (mixed, ground raw materials) and later the compound feeds in the form of pellets rose in popularity. Partly due to the technical skills of Buunk himself, De Hoop was rapidly able to adapt to the much changed circumstances. During the sixties and the seventies, De Hoop developed a genuine feed factory with a large clientele, specifically in the cattle and pig sector.

At the end of the seventies Gerrit and Johan Buunk took over the leadership from Evert-Jan Buunk. With innovative feeds, progressive marketing concepts and because of the rapid developments in the poultry sector, De Hoop grew into a medium-sized compound feed factory with purchasers all over the Netherlands and far into the German border region.

The blessing which was hoped for had come and De Hoop will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2006. Meanwhile, with Gert-Jan Buunk, the fourth generation is ready to continue maintaining the tradition of 'Kennis, Kunde and Karakter'.