Visiting: Familie van Rijk (Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Tucked away between some other small businesses and a Hema you find a small shop with a fresh look. The mint green building with the yellow sign stands out between the overall sober building in the street. On the window, it clearly shows what you can expect here. Lunchroom, Food shop and “Brood op de Zaak” (Bread for Businesses). Three different components that form the base of Familie van Rijk, with an extra area where you can buy special beers.

The lunchroom and the food shop are founded in 2016, in an old bakery at the Amsterdamsestraatweg in Utrecht (NL). The owner, Raymond & IJsbrand, have known each other for 15 years and have been working together for quite some time. They have been working with us (Bio Futura) for some years now, time to get to know these hard working guys a bit better.

The Food Shop

When you come in to the store, the first thing that catches your attention is the cabinet with wines, liquors and cheese (and more!). A big part of the products they sell is sourced locally, but can also come from other countries. The most important for them is the look, the quality, if it fits the range and the story behind it. Of course, price is also an important part of the decision making. They want to keep the shop affordable and accessible for all. What is really nice, is that the shop does not only sell standard food. Next to all the products you would expect in a deli, they also sell original and locally sourced gifts. For instance, they sell decanters, cups and plates from a brand called “echtWaar”. This is a social enterprise which is located in the same city, with a very recognizable style. Or the key rings from “Noest”, which are made of trees from the area that had to be cut down.  

Raymond and IJsbrand are also very proud of the collaboration they have with a butcher / deli from Arnhem (NL). After a ride to Arnhem with a friend to buy meat, they saw all the beautiful products this man offered. Now they are the only shop outside the city of Arnhem that sells the products, which is an unique part of the range.

But there is more to discover in the shop! Next to the hand picked range, there is a small area at the back of the shop. This is where another member of the family, Fred, sells his special beers. They are mostly sourced from the Netherlands, but the range also covers some special ones from Russia or Australia. Even better, he offers fresh beer from the tap to take home with you.

The Lunchroom

You can also visit Familie van Rijk for breakfast, lunch or a nice cup of coffee. The menu changes every 2 months and gives you a choice from different surprising sandwiches and rolls. They mostly work with products they like and transform them into a sandwich, which you can also take to go. A lot of the used ingredients come from local businesses. The bread for instance, is an organic sourdough bread from a local bakery and the marmalade and relish comes from “Twisted Jam” and is made of leftover fruits and vegetables.

The only thing on the menu that never changes is the famous “Broodje van Rijk”. This is a sourdough bread with smoked beef, truffel mayonaise, smoked broad beans and rocket. A must try when you visit the place! The bread is served on a wooden platter or wrapped in a biodegradable bag. When possible, they try to use as much environmentally friendly packaging as possible. To care for the environment, but also to show their guests that they do care when it comes to their products, packaging and ingredients. This is also one of the reasons for them to use our biodegradable coffee cups and lids, for all tea and coffee to go.

Photo: www.familievanrijk.nl - www.culy.nl 

“Brood op de Zaak” (Bread for Businesses)

A less visible, but just as important part of the family is: Brood op de Zaak (Bread for Businesses) The caterers of the company provide creative and delicious lunches, which are changed on a daily basis. The customers of the catering company usually just choose the amount of bread to wish to receive and let Familie van Rijk take care of everything else.

So, when in Utrecht (the Netherlands) and in the mood for a nice sandwich or something nice for home, you can always drop by at Familie van Rijk. You can find them at the Amsterdamsestraatweg 379 in Utrecht.

Not visiting Utrecht or the Netherlands, but interested in the packaging they use for their sandwiches and coffee? Send us an email on customercare@biofutura.com and we will give you all the information.