Meet Marcel van der Lugt, chair of the Members' Council
January 10, 2025

On 1 January, Peter Smak stepped down as chair of the Members' Council, and Marcel van der Lugt took over from him. Marcel has been a member of the Members' Council for three years, so he’s not a stranger. Even so, we would like to get to know him a little better. Who is Marcel, and what can members expect from him in the coming years
Love for the Lisianthus
A colourful tidal wave of pastel pink calyxes, as far as the eye can see. We meet Marcel in one of the greenhouses at his company Lugt Lisianthus. A family-run business dating back over 100 years. What started as a vegetable nursery turned into a company growing Lisianthus year-round at two locations. Marcel: "It's a beautiful flower, which keeps evolving. New colours are constantly being added, and there are flowers with ruffles and double-bloomed varieties. This keeps cultivation interesting."
The company, which handles over fifty-five million stems a year, now has six owners: Marcel and his two brothers, and three children. "Three of the old guard, three of the new guard. We are now at a turning point. It feels great to look at the future of the company in this way with the younger generation." A company he is proud of, not least for its high efficiency in production processes and logistics and because of the sustainability measures they implemented. "At one site we use geothermal heat, the other site will follow next year. In addition, we use LED everywhere. And the goal is to be completely fossil-free. Lisianthus requires steaming, and we prefer to run that on sustainable energy too. It would be nice if the national government also encouraged this in our sector, with subsidies, for instance."
More transparency on the Members' Council
Marcel has a calm demeanour, and he is crystal clear in his statements. Important, for the chair of the Members' Council. What will he be working on in the coming years? "I hear from our constituents - the members of cooperative - that they are not quite sure what we do as a Members' Council," Marcel begins. "I think that's a shame. Especially because as the Members' Council, we are representative of all members, big and small."
Communication from the Members' Council has become clearer in recent years. Still, as far as Marcel is concerned, more work is needed here. By segmentation, for example: large growers probably need different information and tone than, say, smaller growers. "With one, you have to be clear: this is what it costs, and this is what you get for it. Or: we need to invest heavily as a cooperative, and this is necessary to achieve growth target X or Y. Not all growers want to know that, but for some it certainly adds value." This is how Marcel wants to show the ways in which the Members' Council is committed to the cooperative. That the council will sometimes be on board with decisions from the company, if that suits the members of the cooperative. But also, that proposals from within the company will be adjusted on the advice of the Members' Council. "It is important for members to understand the influence of the Members' Council. For there is" he adds. A position, incidentally, he is keen to strengthen further in the coming years. "The role of the Members' Council needs to be even clearer, including the triangular relationship with the management board and the supervisory board. That is what I am working hard for as chair."
Fresh energy
The green heart is undeniable in Marcel. From an early age, grower was at the top of his occupational list. How could it be otherwise, with a grandfather, a father and two older brothers in the business. Running the business is a considerable task, which he combines with his role as chair for the Members' Council. Does he have time to do other things besides the business? "It's true that there is not much time left. But when I do take time off, I do it well. In my spare time, I enjoy being with my children and grandchildren. We go to the cinema together, for example. I also enjoy travelling with my wife. The children sometimes come along too. This year it was Mexico, last year Hawaii. And no, I am not preoccupied with flowers when I'm away. It means after a break, I can get back to work with renewed energy."
On his motivation for committing to the cooperative alongside his busy life as a business owner, he is clear: ‘The cooperative was established over a hundred years ago for a reason. Together we are stronger than alone. I'd like to invite anyone who disputes that for a conversation." Marcel sees it around him more and more often: colleagues who think they can do things more effectively and efficiently on their own. "There is a lot of unrest. And I understand that, because the world is also on its head. But again: alone is certainly not better than together." Communication needs to change so that growers understand more about the steps the cooperative must take. "If we don't act now, in five years there will be nothing left, or just a very fragile cooperative. Then we will all look back and say, ‘We shouldn't have done that’,’ he concludes. "Keeping the strength we have together strong. Chalk that up as the common thread of my chairmanship."
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