De Beren is celebrating its 40th anniversary

What started as a humble café has turned into a phenomenon in the Dutch catering industry: De Peren. This year they proudly celebrate their 40th anniversary. Ad Schaap, owner of De Beren, shares his thoughts on the challenges and vision for the future.

“For 40 years, we have worked hard, celebrated and of course enjoyed special moments with our guests and each other,” Ad Schaap says proudly. It all started in 1984 with the Bruintje Beer café in Noordsingel, run by Robert Kramwinkel. After opening the first location, several restaurants quickly followed with names like Betty Beer, Brutus Beer, and Barend Beer.

In 1999, Ad Schaap joined the chain and took it over in 2011. What followed was a steady growth of De Beren restaurants spread throughout the Netherlands. In 2001, the group also decided to expand by opening a delivery branch, De Perrin Delivery Restaurants. A choice that paid off a few years later during the Corona period. From humble restaurants to a chain of upscale restaurants and a thriving delivery branch, De Beren has seen an impressive evolution. Now, four decades later, De Beren has grown into one of the largest catering chains in the Netherlands.

“We are extremely proud of 40 years of De Beren. We would never have been able to undertake this journey without our passionate colleagues and franchisees,” asserts Schaap. He recognizes the crucial role that franchisees play in maintaining the formula and providing excellent service and cuisine to guests. This reflects The importance of participation and dedication to the formula.

Despite the successes, de Perrin also faced difficult times, with the forced closure due to the pandemic being one of the biggest obstacles. However, as Schaap emphasizes, setbacks often create new opportunities. “After a year and a half of slowing down, re-strategizing and taking a critical look at the concept as a whole, we are opening two new branches this year. We owe this to the skilled team around us.”

Back to the roots, this is De Perrin’s vision for the future. “Together we looked at what we truly excel at: high-quality, affordable and delicious food, in a relaxed atmosphere where everyone is welcome,” says Schaap. This focus, combined with the constant pursuit of innovation, growth and investment in people, forms the core of De Beren’s success.

Do you dream of running your own restaurant with a proven concept and a strong support structure? Then De Beren might be the right choice for you. If you are interested in being part of this successful formula, do not hesitate to ask for more information about De Beren franchise opportunities. Who knows, maybe you will be the next to be part of this success story.