Our history goes back more than 130 years. At the cradle of Royal A-ware are the Anker and Bouter families. The businesses of these entrepreneurs developed rapidly, expanding their operations over the years.
Anker family
Arie Anker moved into the first cheese warehouse in Bodegraven and started selling cheese at local market places in 1962. Business went profitable and as a result, additional warehouses were built to store all the cheese. Cheese was also matured for other companies. In the 1990s, two daughters and son Jan joined Anker Cheese. In 2001, Jan Anker became co-owner. Under his leadership, Anker Cheese grew into a company that matured, transported an traded cheese.
Bouter family
Peter Bouter started his own grain and cheese business in 1898. He supplied fodder to farmers, some of whom repaid him with cheese. In 1956, son Peet, a born trader, joined the family business. Not only did the cheese business develop at a rapid pace, but customers' needs also changed. For instance, they wanted pre-packaged pieces of cheese to which Peet responded.
In 1973, the cattle feed business was sold, while the cheese business continued to grow. In 1983, Albert Heijn decided to choose Bouter Kaas as its supplier. Since then, Bouter Cheese has been Albert Heijn's cheese partner.
Royal A-ware Food Group
In 2010, the Anker and Bouter families decided to join forces: Anker Cheese and Bouter Cheese became A-ware Food Group.
2015 marked A-ware Food Group's 125th anniversary, and the company received the designation 'Royal'. Since then, the company has gone by the name Royal A-ware Food Group. Briefly, Royal A-ware.
Over time, acquisitions have taken place in all divisions, the portfolio of products and services has expanded significantly worldwide and the number of sales and production locations grew.
