“Niels (Peteri, co-founder of Quooker) always says 1999 was the first year we made a profit. Well,” Edward laughs, “that can’t be a coincidence!” His colleagues Ester and Marco laugh along. All three joined Quooker in 1999, when it was still a start-up with just 19 employees, including interns. “I was a receptionist, telephone operator, and administrator all in one. And if needed, I helped out in production,” says Ester, who is now a Team Lead Sales Support. “It was a close-knit group—you really did everything together.”

Reinventing the wheel Marco’s Quooker career began with an internship, which led to a holiday job and eventually a permanent position. He never left. “When I started, Mr. Peteri—the inventor of Quooker—was still around,” he says. “A very social man who chatted with everyone. Back then, we produced 4,000 Quookers a year. If 52 tanks were on the line at the same time, he would excitedly come out of his office to take a photo. That was a real moment.” “It was a great time—we were truly reinventing the wheel together,” says Edward, who started 25 years ago as a toolmaker and is now Lead Machinery Engineer. “There was no money, so if you needed fifty euros for something, Niels would say: can’t you just make it yourself?” Marco adds, laughing: “Now we have the best machines and custom tools. Back then, we worked with an old pallet truck and a few screwdrivers.”

Nostalgia Of that original group from 1999, Marco, Ester, and Edward are the only ones still working at Quooker. Recently, all three celebrated their 25-year anniversaries. The occasions were marked with cake, gifts, and speeches from management and colleagues, often reflecting on those early days. While they look back with nostalgia, they are especially proud of the company’s tremendous growth. Back then, Quooker produced 4,000 taps per year—now it’s 6,000 per week. The workforce has grown from 19 people to over 550 (excluding international staff). And when Ester, Marco, and Edward mention at a party that they work at Quooker, no one looks puzzled anymore.

“Quooker has conquered the Netherlands, and we were there from the beginning,” says Edward. “It’s not our company—it belongs to Walter and Niels, who took the risks—but it feels like we helped build it. I still enjoy that Niels drops by with ideas for things to make and test. That’s what makes it so special to work for them.” Marco adds: “We were proud, we are proud, and we always will be.”

Published on 15-10-2024