De Maro becomes royal: A golden step towards growth and innovation
Edam / Berkel-Enschot, 3 November 2025
Smilde Bakery, part of the internationally operating family company Royal Smilde, has acquired De Maro from Berkel-Enschot. With this acquisition, both companies take a powerful step forward: together they are actively building a future-proof, innovative, and growing bakery group.
De Maro and Smilde Bakery are joining forces to strengthen their position in the bakery market and to further expand their product range. The acquisition is a strategic decision that immediately adds extra production capacity and new opportunities. Smilde Bakery and De Maro share the same vision: continuous investment in innovation, quality, and customer focus.
“I have built De Maro with great dedication since a young age and see plenty of opportunities for further growth,” says Bart Snijders, owner of De Maro. “At the same time, this next phase — including the implementation of an ERP system — requires a different approach. Smilde Bakery enables us to innovate, scale up, and internationalize more quickly. This ensures the continuity of De Maro and the future of our employees.”
All De Maro employees will remain in service, retaining their current employment conditions. De Maro will continue to operate independently from Berkel-Enschot. The integration will be carried out carefully and in phases, with strong attention to personal development and collaboration within the Smilde Group.
“As family businesses, we speak the same language: that of craftsmanship, commitment, and ambition,” says Alex Kruiter, Managing Director of Smilde Bakery. “De Maro brings passion and entrepreneurship; Smilde Bakery provides the strength and facilities to grow further. Together, we are building a future where tradition and innovation go hand in hand — with one goal: to make the bakery craft stronger than ever.”