Starting point: Aachen, 1984                                               
In 1984, Vital Raedschelders founded a small business in Aachen with a clear goal: to offer premium fresh poultry from France to the German market. Drawing on experience from his family’s logistics company, he quickly developed Vital into a regional meat supplier.
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Growing together                                                     
By 1987, the product range had already been expanded to include French beef. In 1989, René Houtvast – Vital’s son-in-law – joined the business. He began as a subcontractor, supplying restaurants and butcher shops in the region. Later, he became an integral part of the company, working side by side with the founder. The addition of fresh pork completed the product range, enabling Vital to fully meet its customers’ needs.

In 1998, company founder Vital Raedschelders stepped back from daily operations and René Houtvast took over management. In the years that followed, the company grew significantly – along with its structures, team and demands. In 2004, Vital moved into new facilities in Alsdorf. What started as a regional supplier has since grown into a wholesale distributor serving entire regions.

New generation – same values                                 
In 2024, Hendrik Bok and Leonard Krall took over the company, combining over 30 years of experience in trade. On site, they are supported by Christoph Schoenen, the new operations manager, who brings over ten years of industry experience.

Today                                                                                      
Today, Vital supplies premium meat from around the world – from international high-end brands like Jack’s Creek and Greater Omaha to exclusive regional products from small-scale farms.

Since the very beginning, our success has been built on two core principles: customer focus and a commitment to quality. That’s why we’ve continuously implemented new quality standards over the years. Since 2007, we have been one of the few QS-certified companies in the region. In 2021, we added another level of quality assurance by joining the “Initiative Tierwohl” animal welfare program.
Through long-term, partnership-based relationships, we aim to continue earning trust through quality and reliability – and to stay on a path of sustainable growth. More than 20 employees work every day to ensure that our customers in retail, craftsmanship and gastronomy are reliably supplied.