About Us

The origin of Zuivelhoeve is located in Twekkelo, a rural neighborhood near Hengelo. The story begins in 1981 with Diane Roerink, who started selling traditional dairy products in the old clog shed on her parents' property. These products were made by Gerjhan Roerink himself on the farm. Only fresh pasture milk from farmers in the immediate vicinity was used.

In 1981, Diane and her husband Gerjhan founded Zuivelhoeve together. Both Diane and Gerjhan had been raised with a passion for the purity of farm life. At some point, the thought occurred to them that their thirty cows might be capable of producing beautiful dairy goods. The direct production of dairy products from the farm was intended to enhance the value of the milk and to delight consumers with the deliciousness of farm dairy. Using ingredients and products that come directly from the source of Zuivelhoeve is the basis for today's products.

The first shop was set up in an old clog shed on Diane's parents' farm, and the products that were sold were made from pure dairy. Items included buttermilk, milk, cottage cheese and yogurt. These products were initially sold to the neighbors living nearby. Diane's first signature product was yogurt in a bucket with fruit straight from the farm. It was something new, and local newspapers picked it up. The attention immediately prompted a run for Diane's yogurt. Customers were able to see where the product came from, from a real farm where Diane helped her grandmother. Gerjhan went home for lunch every day at noon, even though there were customers in the shop. This was especially nice because it added to the authenticity of the Zuivelhoeve, making it feel like a farm shop. From day one, the Zuivelhoeves most proud feature was transparency, and that is still apparent in the company today.

In Twekkelo, Gerjhan and Diane worked day and night to grow their business. Gerjhan focused on developing delicious artisanal dairy products, while Diane sold them in her store with a lot of love and passion. Within a short time after opening the first store, Diane also opened a second store in Enschede-Zuid. There are now more than 95 stores throughout the Netherlands, with more to come.

In 2011, eldest daughter Jacqueline joined the family business and in 2020, daughter Jorieke. Both daughters have the ambition to continue the business together. But this was not self-evident, says Jacqueline. She studied business administration in Rotterdam and worked at a supermarket company, in a very different environment than Zuivelhoeve. One day she realized that she had ideas about developing Zuivelhoeve and one thing led to another. Jacqueline: “I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given.”

Brother Niels works elsewhere, but the door is always open for him too. Jorieke: “All three of us have a thing for food. We love discovering new flavors, looking around in supermarkets, seeing trends, locally but also abroad. We were inspired by our parents and the family business.” She often gets asked what is it like to work with your family. “Very nice!” she always answers with a big and proud smile, “we share the same passion."

Zuivelhoeve Stores

Now, almost 40 years later, we have grown from this farm shop into a franchise organization with more than 95 stores throughout the Netherlands. In our stores we offer in addition to our Noord-Dutch cheeses and the most tasteful farmhouse cheeses, also a wide range of foreign cheeses. Just like cheese fresh from the knife, our nuts are freshly roasted in the shop. We also sell other delicacies such as olives, tapenades, different types of sausages and of course our own Zuivelhoeve dairy.
We believe that food is only tasty and healthy if it is made with love and skill, with a direct connection to the source. Honest tastes the best!

Zuivelhoeve Diary

We opted for the 'yogurt culture' from the beginning of XNUMX, as we liked it best on the farm itself. The recipe from XNUMX was never touched again, and we still believe in using the same recipe today. And the rest of the Netherlands thinks the same! Making yogurt on a large scale is still really human work for us. Our machines are, of course, indispensable in the factory, but our yogurt masters closely and continuously monitor the production and quality of our yogurt.

Good yogurt allows a spoon to stand up straight when left. At least… if you ask us! That requires a lot of time to let the natural process do its job. As a result, our yogurts' uniqueness in taste and structure is undeniable. To achieve this, our yogurt is aged for at least 18 hours. This gives it its full, tasty and real taste. Zuivelhoeve, made with the tranquility of the Zuivelhoeve.

Dessert meesters

At Dessert Meesters, the most delicious desserts for retail are made with a great deal of love and passion. Traditional recipes are used to develop the tastiest desserts. The highest quality ingredients are utilized to create unique flavors. The products are sold in 26 countries in Europe under both private and high-end labels. The company was founded in 1925 with an ice cream parlor in Hengelo. It is a passionate family business where quality and taste are of paramount importance. The families extensive recognition and recognition for its products reflects a passion that continues to permeate the company today. Since 2014, Dessert Meesters has been part of the Roerink Food Family.

Dessert Meesters is continually looking for the best and tastiest. Our products distinguish themselves on taste, quality and unique way of presentation. With this, we enable our customers to excel in the category.

Roerink Food Family

Roerink Food Family is a family-owned business with a long history, which includes three organizations. Nevertheless, the family business factor continues to play a role. Diane: “I know everyone, and everyone knows us. We are one family.

All companies work with one and the same passion, namely making or selling the tastiest dairy products. Each company has its own specialty, ranging from a real Boer'n yogurt®, unique specialties such as cheese, to desserts made from fresh milk. Each product has its own distinctive positioning. All unique, but above all tasty.

Until now, the dairy is produced in the farming environment in Twente. “What you see is what you get,” says Diane. “Transparency characterizes the Zuivelhoeve.” She is less transparent about one thing. “Our yogurt is so firm that you can eat it with a fork. How we do that is our secret. We have, of course, modernized the production process over the years. I am proud of the knowledge that has arisen. I think it's great that the second generation is now working in our company. It gives me wings and makes the work even better. It is nice to pass on what we have built.