WILLEMSTAD – Gerard van den Tweel (81), renowned for his Van den Tweel supermarkets in Curaçao and Bonaire, bid farewell to his company on Monday. After 56 years at the helm, he is stepping down due to health issues. Van den Tweel has been diagnosed with bile duct cancer and is no longer receiving treatment. 

Gerard van den Tweel

“It’s a difficult decision, but it’s time to pass the baton,” Van den Tweel said. The handover coincides with the company’s 120th anniversary. Roy de Ridder, who has been with the organization for nine years as a financial expert, will take over as the new director. 

Van den Tweel will remain involved as chairman of the supervisory board. “As long as I’m able, I will continue,” he added, emphasizing that he remains active. “Today, I visited five branches and am busy with a New Year’s tour. Everyone wants to see me one last time.” 

The company, founded in 1905, started as a grocery business and grew into an empire with supermarkets, hospitality ventures, and real estate. Van den Tweel expanded the family business into an enterprise employing 1,300 people. 

Despite his departure, Van den Tweel chose a modest farewell. “On Monday, a plaque will be unveiled at one of the branches. That’s enough for me,” he said. In February, he hopes to host a farewell reception, depending on his health. “First, I need to find out how much time I have left,” he noted. 

Sale in 2018 

Until 2018, Gerard van den Tweel owned five supermarkets across the ABC islands: Van den Tweel Supermarkets in Zeelandia and Jan Thiel on Curaçao, Warehouse and Van den Tweel on Bonaire, and Ling & Sons on Aruba. In 2018, he sold the supermarkets to Jamaican supermarket entrepreneur Gassan Azan.