Energy crisis hits ‘Bakker Jens’: brothers close two of the three branches in Antwerp | Antwerp
AntwerpSad news from the north of Antwerp. The Bakker Jens branches in Merksem and Kalmthout will be closed irrevocably. You have already guessed the main reason: the sky-high energy prices. The branch of Bakker Jens in Ekeren will remain open for the time being. “But honestly? We are also looking to close there.”
Own bakery: Jens Ribbens (27) from Kalmthout dreamed of it from childhood. And – admittedly – a little to his own moves to kill that boyhood dream. Five years ago, Jens opened his own business: ‘Bakker Jens’ in Ekeren. Jens’ brother Jorg (29), who is being built commercially, soon joined the business. Under his impulse it went fast. Furnaces were purchased. From now on ‘Bakker Jens’ was no longer a cold bakery, but a real warm one.
And the customers? They quickly found their way to the brothers’ bakery in Ekerse Molenstraat. It deeds Jens and Jorg dreaming of a second branch. She found them two years ago in the Bloemstraat in Kalmthout. And if all this was not enough, a third Bakker Jens branch opened in May of this year: in De Lunden in Merksem, near the Jan Palfijn hospital.
despair
But the brothers’ euphoria soon turned into despair. “We had calculated everything neatly: opening a third branch was perfectly feasible,” says Jorg. “But suddenly the prices of raw materials – grain for example – started to swing out of control due to the crisis in Ukraine. It got harder. Also don’t forget: we had people permanently employed. Our staff pays: it was a very big bite out of the budget.”
To reduce costs, Jens and Jorg went into the business themselves to serve the customers. But the courage to carry on failed them further. “We have started to think out loud about the future of our business. We actually wanted to stop. But we still carried on.”
Jens and Jorg plodded on. Until they recently looked at their energy bill. “Really, I fell off my chair,” says Jorg. “It’s madness. Gas, electricity… I think we pay ten times what we used to pay.”
drastic
Jens and Merksem will close permanently. “We are not taking this decision lightly,” says Jorg. “But we have to do something. If we just keep our business open and act when nothing is wrong, we will go under financially. And lose everything? We want to avoid that at all costs – especially at our young age.”
The branch of Bakker Jens in Ekeren will remain open for the time being. “But honestly? We are looking to close there as well. Our accountant is currently looking in detail at how we are doing.”
The decision to close is a hard one. Not just at Jens and Jorg. Also with the many customers who have visited Bakker Jens over the years. “The news is collectively spreading like wildfire,” says Jorg. “Obviously our customers are very disappointed. But somehow – and we notice that very clearly – they do understand our decision. It’s not times. For nobody.”
Permanent job
Jens and Jorg now hope that a candidate will come forward who wants to take over the two branches of Bakker Jens. “Perhaps a major player in the bakery world? I don’t know. Our branches certainly have a lot of potential. And the branch in Ekeren? We will wait to see how that turns out.”
Jorg does not want to look too far ahead for the time being. “But when all this is over, I will start looking for a permanent job as soon as possible. That’s for sure,” he concludes.
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