In the eighties and nineties, the focus was on slaughter pigs and, to a lesser extent, on piglets. Slaughterhouses throughout Italy, from north to south, were supplied. We grew rapidly during those years and soon established a strong presence in the Italian market. In 1992, we chose the name that stuck: VAEX, short for Pig Export. Leo Govers taught himself “Italian”… or rather, a cheerful mix of Spanish and Italian, his own dialect, haha. Old sales colleagues from the ‘90s like Peter Smulders also joined, later followed by Ezio Bocca. In the early 2000s, the new generation took over, with Dirk Govers joining in Italy, while Pim Govers started focusing on Spain. Of course, there was always some banter about where you could get the best food. Italy remained an important market, but more and more customers also came from other parts of Europe.

Today: Danish Duroc piglets for Northern and Central Italy

Where it once revolved around slaughter pigs, VAEX’s focus in Italy today is mainly on supplying Duroc piglets from Denmark. Duroc piglets produce meat with a better balance between lean and fat, which you can taste in the final products. They also grow better into the heavy pigs that are so typical for Italy (often over 170 kilos), resulting in larger hams and loins that mature longer and better. And hams—that’s what much of Italian pig production is all about!

North and South: two worlds

Roberto De Pol, VAEX’s agent in Italy since 2017, sees a clear difference between Northern and Southern Italy. In the north, it’s about scale, good logistics, and growth; in the south, it’s about small family businesses with strong regional products. Both work with VAEX: the north for volume and structural deliveries, the south for quality and tradition. VAEX serves both sides.

Business by feel

In the early years, deals were often literally made at the kitchen table, something that still happens frequently in Italy. A cup of coffee, and then on to the next customer. Personal contact was key, something VAEX still values highly to this day.

Trust as the key word

What has always remained over the decades is trust. On both the Dutch and Italian sides, people know that agreements are honored, quality is delivered, and there’s always someone available if a problem arises. That trust may well be the main reason VAEX is still firmly rooted in the Italian market. And with our focus on Duroc piglets from Denmark, we aim to contribute to the Italian pig sector.

Looking ahead
Italy remains an important market for VAEX, full of opportunities. The demand for quality, reliability, and partners who think along is only increasing. “As long as we can keep fulfilling that role,” says Roberto, “Italy will remain a country where VAEX feels at home.” And so the circle is complete: from that one truck to Turin in 1976, to a modern and solid partnership that is now an integral part of the Italian pig industry.