From July 2020, it will be up to the third generation to further map out the path. We will take charge of day-to-day management, Samuel in the role of CEO and Yana in the role of CHO.
It has been 65 years since Vadigran was founded by our grandparents Paul Van Diest (93) and Adrienne De Dobbeleer (85). Paul's mother had a grocery store where all sorts of grain were sold. Occasionally someone came to ask for some grain mix for his canary and Paul saw an opportunity in the market of food for birds and small animals. Each time they had a little money left they bought material to build silos and after 7 years the first part of the production site was operational.
Our grandparents are still at the office every day to help where they can, but they left the management to our parents Marleen Van Diest and Antoon Van Lathem in 1993. Mum mainly took the lead in product management and sales, while dad took care of the operational side in logistics and production. They further expanded the company with a greater focus on the distribution of accessories. In addition to Belgium, 40 other countries were added to the sales market.
Because the company had grown strongly and the demand for more structure increased, the family decided in 2017 to appoint Edwin Vandermeulen as external CEO so the company could be prepared for further growth and to prepare the third generation for future challenges.
