175 years of tobacco experience
From 1765 even there has been a Van den Biggelaar-family in Roosendaal. They are the owners of a tobacco cutter.*

Founders Biggelaar Tabak
The story starts in 1823, where Cornelia Dielemans de Backer, known in Roosendaal and surroundings as "the widow Dielemans", because of her shop in liquor, coffee, tea, tobacco and other colonial wares (such as cocoa).. Next to this shop she also owns a carvery.

In 1853, the families Van den Biggelaar and Dielemans are joined forever by marriage. With this also the companies of the two families are merged in the 50s of the 19th century to one shop in colonial wares annex wholesale business and carvery. This had established to the Raadhuissstraat 17 and 19, where the company was situated continuously until 1986.

This company develops into an industrial enterprise because of this merge. In the 60s of the 19th century a new property (workshop and package house) is built to accommodate the carvery, the tobacco-roasting-factory and the wholesale trade.

Difficult times
The venture is later taken over by the zoon of the couple Van den Biggelaar-Dielemans.  In 1905, the company is registered as limited partnership at the Chamber of Commerce in Breda under the name A. v.d. Biggelaar & Co N.V.

In 1922, the venture employs approximately 50 people and experiences a strong period, which apprehends until the crisis of 1929. In this period the first serious demand for 50 gram packaging also raises the market. This instead of the 500 gram packaging they were used to then.

After rain comes sunshine
In 1929, the growth comes to a standstill for a while and commercially the necessary measures have to be considered to keep head above water in difficult tobacco - and coffee markets... In the early 30s of the 20th century the growth continues and due to shortage of space it was decided to discharge the old existing trade and wholesale trade in colonial wares and to concentrate further on coffee, tea, tobacco and cocoa.

At the beginning of the Second World War A. v.d. Biggelaar & Co N.V. still employ 38 people. During the war years the venture was forced to switch to the production of substitute coffee and obviously does that very well. Sales staff can be expanded and they set up a nationwide distribution.

Hiving off tea activities
In the first years after the war the success in business of the war years cannot be retained. The shareholders discharge the venture and it becomes property of the Raaymakers family.

A strict reorganisation is carried out, where regretted dismissals occur, but these measures turn out successful as soon early as the end of 1952. In following years the coffee activities strongly reduce. Also the tobacco sales are decreasing, after an initial bounce after the war, the tea activities are ceased in these years.

International business
In 1972 the name "Biggelaar Tabak" is often used. It becomes the unofficial name. In 1982, the venture is sold to the family Hillenbrand.
The new owner and chairman starts a new policy, focussing on expansion.  In 1983, the coffee activities are rejected and the company continues as tobacco producing factory exclusively.

The expansion is sought in sale on foreign markets and in the development of a powerful specialisation in the making of private labels.

Removal to Majoppeveld Zuid
In 1986, it becomes clear though further mechanisation and automation of the production process, that the commercial properties at the Raadhuislaan in Roosendaal are no longer suitable and the company is moved to the industrial area Majoppeveld Zuid .The production process has been radically computerized and meets the requirements to all standards in the field of process - and quality control.

After 133 years the company leaves the old nest, where a very modern and attractive shopping centre is developed, which carries the name "De Biggelaar". In 1998, Biggelaar Tabak is then the third largest hand rolling tobacco manufacturer of The Netherlands. The Dutch market share has increased to 3.7% and in The Netherlands Biggelaar Tabak is the largest player on the private label market. On a European scale Biggelaar Tabak has more than 20% of the private label market in hands.

Biggelaar Tabak B.V.
In September 1998 A.v.d. Biggelaar & Co B.V has officially changed its name into Biggelaar Tabak B.V. By this time the company is a member of VNK (Vereniging van Nederlandse Kerftabak fabrikanten = Association of Dutch Roll Your Own tobaccos manufacturers) and of the ESTA (European Smoking Tobacco Association).

Take over by Heintz van Landewyck
In the autumn of 2001 Biggelaar Tabak is taken over by Heintz van Landewyck in Luxembourg, also a manufacturer of hand rolling tobacco, and cigarettes.

Because of this a powerful organisation arises, where the better of two worlds are combined; at the one hand the typically Dutch know-how for the processing of hand rolling tobacco, and on the other hand the support of a larger internationally oriented organisation.

Biggelaar Tabak nowadays
Ever since that moment Biggelaar Tabak has been supplier of hand rolling tobacco and cigarettes of several brands for branded products as well as generic brands. Biggelaar Tabak is a successful company which feels strongly about high quality and giving the customer a paramount position. Next to this Biggelaar is flexible due to a flat pragmatically organisation and has a low cost structure.

This, combined with the aiming for good long term relations makes Biggelaar Tabak an attractive organisation to cooperate with.

* This machine can be found at the "De Ghulden Roos" museum in Roosendaal.