COMPANY PROFILE

The history of the Berkel brand started in 1898 when Wilhelmus Van Berkel from the Netherlands, invented a truly revolutionary tool that could mechanically reproduce the “perfect slice”. A genius intuition that led to the creation of the world’s first slicer and the birth of an icon, the red flywheel, a must-have for enthusiasts and connoisseurs across the globe.

On 12 October 1898, Van Berkel established his first factory in Rotterdam. One year later, Van Berkel’s Patent Company Ltd had manufactured and delivered 84 slicers. Upon obtaining the patent, other factories were opened in Europe, the United States, South America, and Canada, and the product range was expanded to include scales, meat mincers, coffee grinders, and bread slicers.

The story of Berkel in Italy starts in 1924 in Milan. In just a few years the company signs up 1780 workers, 350 employees, 920 salesmen distributed in 4 factories, 115 showrooms and 205 stores. An unprecedented success with no competition. Only a global disaster could stop the rise of the slicer par excellence: during the Second World War the damage is massive but the brand survives among the smoking ruins and Berkel does rise during the Italian economic miracle.

Van Berkel International today is a multi country organization with 160+ employees and over $27 mln revenues. VBI sells meat slicers, knives and other kitchen and food processing equipment in 100 countries, with the two premium brand BERKEL. With all design, marketing and product management activities based in Italy, VBI is one of the most important European players in the food processing equipment business, both in the professional and consumer retail markets.