Fresh Fries, Straight from the Countryside
You could say that Arjan Ardts (23) and his three-year-older brother Willem were raised with entrepreneurship in their blood, having grown up on a farm near Nijmegen. With their company, Pataad Haps, they aim to provide the hospitality industry, wholesalers, and consumers with an honest Dutch product. Arjan is currently taking the Entrepreneurship minor to gain more knowledge to help Pataad Haps grow.
When people think of typical Dutch food, fries often come to mind. Although the exact nationality of the snack’s inventor remains a topic of debate, the love for a portion of fries with mayonnaise or special sauce is something that unites all Dutch people. It’s actually quite strange that many potatoes from Dutch fields are exported abroad.
Close to the Source
That’s exactly the idea behind Pataad, the company founded by Arjan and Willem Ardts. About two years ago, they started their business. “We quickly noticed there was demand for it—a gap in the market. We grow, cut, and ship from our own farm, so we stay close to the source. By now, we have quite a few customers in the Nijmegen-Venray region, and it’s time to scale up.”
Arjan studies Commercial Economics at the Arnhem and Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences. However, that didn’t stop him from enrolling in the minor Entrepreneurship at Fontys, he explains. “I specifically looked for a minor that would best align with running Pataad. That’s how I quickly ended up choosing the Entrepreneurship minor at the Fontys Centre for Entrepreneurship.”
Practical Approach
And so he did. Now halfway through the minor, Arjan is pleased with his choice. “I mainly wanted to gain more knowledge about entrepreneurship, and so far, I’m very satisfied. What I particularly like is that the minor is very practice-oriented. Together with your mentors—all of whom come from the business world—you actively work on improving your company. It’s a very targeted approach.”
During the Entrepreneurship minor, Arjan learns more about the daily reality of running a business. He has already implemented several things, he explains. “From approaching customers to using models to better define your target audience—these were things I didn’t use before. Now, I’ve learned how to be much more efficient and strategic in entrepreneurship.”
Pataad is doing well, and Willem and Arjan already have plans for expansion. Arjan says, “We are currently looking for staff and want to grow in the near future. The Entrepreneurship minor comes at the perfect time for me—it’s time to take things to a more professional level. By combining the knowledge I’m gaining from my Commercial Economics studies and the Entrepreneurship minor, I’m sure we’ll succeed.”
Author: Fontys Center for Entrepreneurship