Every product in our store has a story. Sometimes it’s a packaging change. Sometimes it’s a missed forecast. But through us, those products don’t go to waste, they find a second life. At the center of that work are Roy Verkerk and Linda Wülfing, Procurement Managers at Foodello–Fiksuruoka. Their job is about more than just purchasing goods. They build relationships, solve problems, and make things easy for our suppliers. So, what does great supplier collaboration actually look like, and why do companies choose to work with us again and again?
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Roy Verkerk and Linda Wülfing both work as Procurement Managers, but their daily work looks a little different.
Roy, based in the Netherlands, manages categories like snacks, health products and confectionery. The day for him starts early, often checking sales figures and stock performance. His days are a mix of meetings with the team, conversations with suppliers, and following up on orders.
“Many of the suppliers we work with don’t want to throw away products, they want a solution that’s fast, fair, and convenient,” Linda explains.
Linda, based in Finland, manages the pantry category, the kind of everyday food items that form the backbone of the store. Her work includes reviewing offers from suppliers, securing stock, and developing the internal tools and systems the procurement team uses daily.
“Many of my suppliers are long-term partners. We’ve built a rhythm with them – they know how we work, and we can move quickly when needed”, she explains.
Both Roy and Linda also work closely with teams across the company, from warehouse and logistics to marketing and customer service, to make sure everything flows smoothly from supplier to shelf.
While their categories and daily rhythms vary, the goal is the same: supporting suppliers in giving products a second life.
Suppliers don’t come to us with perfect products. They come with challenges: overstock, tight expiration dates, old packaging, or seasonal leftovers. In those moments, what they need is a reliable, fast solution.
“There are a lot of reasons why products don’t make it to regular retail. Sometimes it’s as simple as a packaging change. Sometimes a retailer drops a product unexpectedly and the supplier is left with a warehouse full of stock”, Roy explains.
Foodello–Fiksuruoka offers a way forward. Suppliers can move inventory quickly, protect their brand in regular retail channels, and avoid the environmental and financial costs of waste.
Here’s why many suppliers choose to work with us:
For example, in the Netherlands, Roy often works with webstores and international traders. “What usually helps is that we can take the full batch. It frees up space for their next campaigns or new product launches. For them, that’s often more valuable than chasing margin on a few boxes”, Roy says.
The goal for any good supplier relationship is simple: it should feel easy.
“The aim is to make saving goods from going to waste as effortless as possible. We reply fast, we’re efficient, and we don’t make things complicated. That matters, especially when you’re dealing with time-sensitive stock,” says Linda. “We also get a lot of feedback that it’s genuinely fun to work with us.”
“The aim is to make saving goods from going to waste as effortless as possible.” – Linda
From the first contact onward, both Roy and Linda focus on making the experience smooth, clear, and collaborative. But efficiency isn’t everything. A great partnership is also about trust and human connection.
“It’s unique people that we work with. Making the time to get to know them a bit better makes the collaboration more enjoyable for both”, Roy says.
Linda agrees. Meeting suppliers in person, when possible, adds a layer of understanding that’s hard to replicate over email. “Many appreciate the extra human touch. Strong relationships help everything run better.”
When supplier collaboration works at its best, everyone benefits.
For the supplier, it's a chance to move overstock that might otherwise be wasted, without compromising brand image. Instead of writing off a batch of short-dated or rebranded goods, they are able to turn it into turnover.
For Foodello–Fiksuruoka, it's an opportunity to advance our mission. Every shipment we receive is one more step toward reducing food waste and making smart consumption easier.
And for the customer, it’s about saving money while doing good. They get access to quality products at affordable prices in our e-commerce store and leave knowing they made a more sustainable choice.
This is the kind of collaboration Roy and Linda work to build every day. Efficient, fair, and human. “We want it to be a win-win for everyone. That’s what makes suppliers come back. And that’s what keeps the work meaningful for us”, Linda says.