A Partnership Built on Trust: Linda’s Journey with The Bulldog
When preparing this story, I actually had to dig deep into our archives. There is no original contract marking the beginning of our collaboration , which in itself says something about the trust between our companies. But the earliest files I could find on my computer date back to 2006. That’s where the story officially begins for us.
Our collaboration with The Bulldog started that year as a manufacturer. Not long after, we also began selling The Bulldog items in Amsterdam as a distributor , the beginning of a relationship that has now lasted almost two decades.
One of our favorite memories from those early years involves my father, who was leading our company at the time. One day, he saw a beautiful car arrive at the loading dock. When he went downstairs from his office to see who it was, he found Henk de Vries himself delivering an order, simply to see who was selling his products. That moment says a lot about The Bulldog: personal, involved, and built on real relationships.
We are a family business with 47 years of history. After my father passed away, we joined forces with the Belgian family company JF MAES.
Today, all distribution is centrally managed from JF Maes, where we operate from a 3,000 m² warehouse. Together with our team of 25 dedicated employees, we handle the distribution of several strong brands, including The Bulldog, across the Benelux, many of them on an exclusive basis.
In Amsterdam, we are closely involved with The Bulldog “Gottahaves” store on Damrak. Across the Benelux, we supply tobacco shops, kiosks, souvenir shops, and gift stores, making sure The Bulldog products are well represented and widely available.
What makes this partnership special is the mutual trust and the family feeling. Working with The Bulldog feels different from working with many other companies; it is built on respect, loyalty, and long-term thinking.
The events and celebrations we have attended over the years always show the warmth and strength of a true family business.
The Bulldog is a strong and iconic brand, with a logo that is recognized all over the world. Their courage to think differently and sometimes color outside the lines is, in our view, one of the keys to their success , supported by a strong family behind the brand, with Captain Henk at the helm.
We are truly thankful for the journey we have shared so far. What started as a business collaboration has grown into a partnership built on trust, loyalty, and genuine connection. We sincerely hope to continue writing this story together for many years to come , growing side by side and keeping The Bulldog spirit alive across the Benelux.
