Managing one of Duynie’s most complex seasonal co-product flows
Chris Kooijman, Team Lead pressed sugar beet pulp campaign at Duynie, plays a key role managing one of Duynie’s most complex seasonal co-product flows. Known for his hands-on approach and long-term commitment, he believes reliability is not a promise but a daily practice, and the foundation of the pressed pulp campaign’s success. With his expertise, he combines deep operational knowledge with a strong focus on people and partnerships.
“Handling sugar beet pulp is one of Duynie’s most intensive operational periods,” tells Chris. “For several months, pressed sugar beet pulp has to be collected from producers and delivered quickly and accurately to hundreds of farms, day in, day out.”
By organising the flow of pressed sugar beet pulp in a highly structured way, Duynie provides continuity for sugar producers, a fully circular feed ingredient for farmers and an efficient, low-impact logistics setup. The way this campaign is run in the Netherlands offers a blueprint for further optimisation and growth in other European countries, exactly where Unlock 30 aims to make the difference.
A campaign built on precision
For more than four months each year, large volumes of fresh sugar beet pulp must leave the factories within 24 hours. Chris Kooiman and his team coordinate this entire flow, from factory to farm.
“We manage around 300 truckloads a day,” Chris explains. “That means constant coordination with factories, transport companies and farmers. Timing is everything. If one link fails, the whole chain feels it.”
Preparation starts months in advance, when production forecasts are translated into volumes, contracts and transport planning. Once the campaign is running, the focus is on execution: monitoring daily output, aligning transport capacity and making sure deliveries arrive exactly when farmers are ready to receive them.
Reliability as a strategic advantage
According to Chris, reliability is what truly sets Duynie apart in the pressed sugar beet pulp chain. “We say what we do, and we do what we say. That applies to co-product partners, farmers and transport partners. And if something goes wrong, we take responsibility.”
That reliability creates clarity and stability in a high-volume, time-critical market. Sugar producers know their co-product flow is secured and production can continue, even during peak production. Farmers know exactly what to expect, under the same conditions for everyone.
Reliability also enables innovation. One example Chris is particularly proud of is the early introduction of silage bunkers for fresh pulp. By investing in on-farm storage solutions and long-term agreements, Duynie reduced the need for energy-intensive drying and significantly expanded the market for fresh pulp.
“That project laid the foundation for how the campaign works today,” Chris says. “It was practical, entrepreneurial and built for the long term.”
Unlock 30: growth beyond borders
In the Netherlands, the pressed sugar beet pulp market is mature. That makes European optimisation the logical next step within Unlock 30. Chris sees strong potential in countries like Germany, France and Belgium, where large sugar producers operate but co-product flows are not always organised as efficiently.
“If we can apply the same structured approach per country, working with local teams, we can reduce CO₂ emissions, improve efficiency and create more value for everyone involved,” he explains.
For Chris, Unlock 30 is not abstract. “It’s about bringing our way of working, structured, reliable and partnership-driven, to more places in Europe.”
Driven by trust and teamwork
Beyond logistics and planning, the campaign is driven by people. What keeps Chris energised, even during long campaign weeks, is the teamwork.
“You build real relationships with colleagues, transporters and farmers. Some people I’ve spoken to for years on the phone and only met much later in person, but the trust is already there."
For Chris, that trust is the real value behind the numbers. “The campaign is intense, but it’s also something unique. Four months of full focus, solving challenges together. That’s when you really see what Duynie stands for.”