Hooghoudt distillery to close after 137 years
La Martiniquaise-Bardinet will shut Dutch distillery Hooghoudt and move its production to Belgium at the end of the year, resulting in job losses.
The genever distillery was founded in the Dutch city of Groninghen in 1880 where it has been located for the past 137 years.
Production will instead move to La Martiniquaise-Bardinet’s distillery in Ghent, Belgium. Operations in Groningen will end on 31 December 2025.
La Martiniquaise Benelux agreed to acquired Hooghoudt in May this year.
There are currently 29 employees working at the Groningen site.
In a press release, the distillery said more details of the plan would be ‘further elaborated in the coming months, as will its consequences for staff’’.
Although individual discussions will be held with employees on whether redeployment can be achieved, it was noted by La Martiniquaise’s Benelux arm that the ‘honest expectation’ is that for most workers, the move would lead to termination of their employment contract.
La Martiniquaise Benelux has informed trade unions of the situation and has invited them to enter discussions on a plan moving forward for the staff.
Hooghoudt makes whisky, genever, herbal bitters, non-alcoholic ‘spirits’, liqueurs and lemonades.
Despite the decision to end its operations in the Netherlands, the expectation is that the brand will continue to exist as normal once it relocates to Belgium and delivery to current customers is ‘guaranteed’ to be the same.
La Martiniquaise claimed that the quality of products will also remain unchanged, with its facility in Ghent being known for the production of Dutch spirits.
Upon its acquisition, La Martiniquaise Benelux had hoped to boost the Hooghoudt brand from its base in the Netherlands.
‘No longer profitable’
Lieven Stevens, managing director La Martiniquaise Benelux, however explained why this could not be the case: “The intention was to further strengthen the Hooghoudt brand on location. Unfortunately, after intensive evaluations of the business, it turned out that due to sharply reduced volumes, the Groningen location could no longer be made profitable.
“Although this step is necessary for the continuity of the Hooghoudt brand, we realise how far-reaching this decision is for our employees in Groningen and the local community.
“We are grateful for their commitment and contribution to Hooghoudt’s success over the years.”
La Martiniquaise Benelux added that it intends to keep close ties with the community in Groningen and that ‘local partners will continue unabated, as will contacts with existing and new relations’.
Hooghoudt’s general manager Martin Strijtveen also commented on the deep regret of closing the plant.
He added: “We have a long history in Groningen since 1888. However, the circumstances (consumption is decreasing, the company is making a loss) were so difficult that we could not change it to a positive result.”
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