Interview Meike - Yme Kuiper

From intern to team member:
Meike reflects on her internship at Yme Kuiper

She's twenty years old and ready to graduate: Meike Winter. She's a Business Administration student at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and has been interning with Yme Kuiper in Heerenveen since February. What began as a sustainability consultancy project has grown into an experience where she feels fully immersed in the world of nuts, seeds, and family business culture. Time to talk with her about her assignment, her insights, and her future plans.

The search for the right internship
"It was difficult to find a place that truly excited me," says Meike. She connected with the company through a previous internship at the purchasing organization Indecos, where Yme Kuiper is a client. "Shortly after, I was approached about a graduation internship. That's how the ball started rolling."
What attracted her? "It's a family business, but a good size: not too small, not too big. And I like that the clients are bakeries – that's more tangible than abstract services."

Developing a sustainability strategy
Meike's graduation project began with a complex question. New European regulations – the CSRD legislation – could require companies to report on sustainability starting in 2026. "Initially, it seemed like Yme Kuiper would be obligated to do so. But then the European Commission's Omnibus proposal came along, and it seemed like the obligation wouldn't apply after all. That threw my entire project into disarray."

Instead of halting the project, Yme Kuiper decided to press ahead. "We felt that sustainability was an important topic anyway. So I started working on an internal and external market analysis, and a customer satisfaction survey."

Meike incorporates the results into concrete recommendations: "I'm delivering a sustainability strategy, including KPIs and a step-by-step plan. Not just to meet any obligations, but to truly embed sustainability at the core of the company. It's not there yet, even though a lot is happening: there are solar panels, an electric truck, and the laundry is sustainably designed. But it's not yet ingrained in our DNA."

During her project, Meike conducted a customer satisfaction survey among 128 customers. "30% responded, so that's about 36 customers. We thought we were doing well, but we weren't really sure. Now we have insights we can really use."
Building a customer list took a lot of time. "It didn't exist yet, so I had to identify contacts myself. But customers appreciated that their opinions mattered."

"You don't feel like an intern here, but an employee"
What Meike especially appreciates about her time at Yme Kuiper is the culture. "When I started here, I thought: nuts and seeds, is that really for me? But I was immediately surprised. Everyone is engaged, helpful, and interested. You don't feel like an intern here, but an employee."
She also finds the contact with colleagues valuable: "I talk to a lot of people. From colleagues to customers and stakeholders. That gives me a really good idea of how the company works. And I notice that my opinion is taken seriously."

Insight into a world she hadn't known before
The world of nuts and seeds turned out to be more complex than she'd anticipated. "The quality standards are high, and the international nature makes it dynamic. A lot happens behind the scenes." HR policy also made an impression. "There's a lot of attention for employees, with health initiatives and regular meetings. You don't see that everywhere."

About her future
After her internship – which she completed in early June – Meike is taking time to think about her next step. "Further study isn't the plan right now. First, she's going to New York for six weeks for a Business English course. Who knows, maybe I'll work abroad. At FrieslandCampina, I was in a corporate environment, which is very different from here. At Yme Kuiper, the lines of communication are shorter, the responsibilities are greater, and the commitment is stronger. That really has its charm."

Recommended for future interns?
Absolutely.
There's still so much to do here, and you can really make an impact. The company is open to change, you receive excellent guidance, and you get freedom. And the best part: you're simply part of the team.

Would you also like to intern at Yme Kuiper? Check out our careers page for vacancies or contact us!

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From intern to team member:Meike reflects on her internship at Yme Kuiper

From intern to team member:
Meike reflects on her internship at Yme Kuiper