Why working in logistics is a good foundation for traders? Bram Baas knows the answer. He is Managing Director at Thenergy, a company that supplies agricultural materials outside of the feed and food industries. ‘For us, it’s all about relationships and cooperation
‘In 2017, I joined Tracomex Group, which is part of Cefetra Group,’ Bram says. ‘I started in logistics. Gradually I grew to be a trader for Tracomex and Thenergy, part of the Tracomex Group. Since the beginning of 2023, I have been the Managing Director of Thenergy.’ ‘I sometimes talk about it with my wife and my friends: it has all gone very quickly. I think that is typical of the Cefetra Group. If you go all the way and they see your potential, a lot is possible. I have always experienced a lot of trust and support. And it’s great work. Once you’re in this field and you like it, you don’t want to let it go.’
“We like to go the extra mile”
Bram Baas – Managing Director
Bram loved working in logistics. ‘If there is a transport problem and you find a solution for it, that gives you a kick. It also offers you a solid foundation if you want to become a trader. You gain a lot of knowledge from conversations with customers, suppliers, and transporters.’
‘If we hire a new trader now, I’ll say: let’s spend the first few months in logistics. Afterwards, you are much more aware of the bigger picture. As a trader, you can buy a huge load of grain in one country and sell it in another, but if you do so with a strong awareness of logistic processes, you will probably make better choices.’
‘At Thenergy, we trade in agricultural products that are no longer suitable for feed and food. We look for other applications for those, such as biofermentation or soil improvement. What is considered to be useless or waste for one industry, can have value for another.This way, nothing needs to go to waste. Teaming up with other companies in the Cefetra Group, we can offer our clients the complete package.’
‘We have a go-getter mentality. We work hard and we celebrate our successes. We regularly have fun outings so that we can also relax together. If we travel to a conference, your partner can come along, and you can stay a little longer. Things like that are important here.’
‘We are also very flexible,’ Bram says. ‘If something goes wrong on a Saturday morning at a factory we work for, we help out. That also has its charm. If someone wakes you up with by calling you at 7 a.m. and you have tackled the challenge by 8 a.m., that also gives you energy.’
‘It’s fantastic when we face a challenge as a team that seems impossible, and then we find a solution anyway. I am proud of that every time. If you ask our customers or suppliers, they will probably tell you we always show 100% commitment. In the end, it’s all about relationships and cooperation for us. We like to go the extra mile for that.’
