Winning together: “You’re never doing it alone.”

Pleun manages Royal Swinkels’ B2B digital platforms; webshops where on-trade customers order everything from kegs of beer to coasters. “There’s a lot more to my job than just keeping a website running,” she says. “It’s working with marketing, sales, and suppliers, making sure the offers are right, the images are sharp, and everything keeps working, especially during peak moments like carnival.

Collaboration is second nature to her. “If I’m unsure about something, I’ll just check in with a sales colleague or someone from event planning here in Lieshout.” That easygoing way of working is deeply ingrained in the culture. “We really do this together. And if something’s not going smoothly, we fix it together too.”

Wanda knows exactly what she means. As Credit Control Manager, she and her team make sure payments run smoothly. “We’re responsible for managing outstanding invoices, and that means working with a lot of teams: customer service, commercial support, order & support, sales, account managers. You can’t do it alone.”

Good collaboration gives her energy. “Especially when you know something’s working better because of the way you did it together. And it helps to get feedback too, to know it’s being noticed. We’ve even got a group chat with our teams in Amsterdam and Lieshout, so we can reach each other quickly. That makes a huge difference.”

For Pleun, winning as a team is about achieving goals together. “We all have the same focus. And when we hit those goals, it really feels like success. And we celebrate it too. There’s a Friday drink to kick off the weekend and one on Wednesdays to break up the week. We toast to what went well.” Those moments matter for team spirit. “Thanks to the social committee, there are loads of activities where you meet colleagues you wouldn’t normally run into. It really brings people together.”

Wanda agrees that success at Royal Swinkels is something you share. “Collaboration gives me energy, especially when you get feedback and help each other improve.” She feels at home in the Royal Swinkels way of working. “We often do things a little differently here and that suits me. I can be a bit headstrong, but I’m always open to other people’s ideas. That’s how you grow.”

They both see that Royal Swinkels is always moving forward. “E-commerce changes so quickly,” says Pleun. “You see the impact of innovations right away. For instance, we’ve gone digital with exports. What used to be done via email and checklists can now be handled in seconds. Customers can order a container online just like that.” Wanda adds, “There’s always something happening. A new system, a rollout for a new entity. You have to like the pace; it keeps you sharp. And you’re given the space to grow along with it.”