Power
Column Ruud Hollander: Strong Stories
Ronald Giphart and Ruud Hollander own De Bigraaf. Together they create biographies written by literary writers for people and organizations with a compelling story. Here they share their experiences.
Can you write a book about every person? Certainly! Although some people have a better book than others. Take Ron and Michel de Kok, two brothers whose father opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken branch in the Netherlands in the early 1970s. On the Bergweg in Rotterdam, to be precise. As teenagers they enjoyed helping their father. Later they joined him and took over the business. And then they started eight more. They are now around sixty, they have sold all branches and we have been asked to make a book about their turbulent years in fast food.
When we meet them for the first time, the beautiful stories quickly spread. Michel, for example, is a huge Prince fan. He says: “When Prince was going to start his Nude Tour in Rotterdam in 1990, he was already there a week earlier for the rehearsals, in Ahoy. He spent the night in the Kurhaus in The Hague. So I went there every day with a few buddies to spot him. That didn't work out, but when Prince unexpectedly had to go back to Minneapolis, we were able to make contact with the other band members. They had nothing to do due to Prince's temporary absence. They hung around the hotel for a bit, and when we offered to show them a bit about the nightlife, a kind of friendship developed.”
The band members were thrilled to hear that Michel was co-owner of the only KFC in the Netherlands. “Can you maybe bring us a few buckets while we are rehearsing in Ahoy?” they asked. Of course he did. And because of the relationship with the band, he was the first to know when Prince decided to give a smaller night concert after a performance. For example, years later in Rotterdam's Nighttown. Michel: “By coincidence, the artist entrance to Nighttown is opposite the supplier entrance to KFC. There, on the sidewalk, I was able to speak to Mr. What were they talking about? “I gave him some compliments, said I was a fan and he said some nice words back. Of course it wasn't about anything, but it made an indelible impression on me. The sidewalk where we stood is still sacred ground for me.”
Big stories, small stories: they follow each other in rapid succession. Ron, the younger of the two: “The early years were especially fun, because we could do everything we wanted in the restaurant. Gradually, however, control from America became increasingly strict. That was not always nice, because the overseas management could be quite forceful, even though they knew little about the Dutch market. But their will was law. How far this went became clear when they did not receive permission from the Municipality of Amsterdam in the 1980s to open a branch in Leidsestraat. “No restaurant there?” they said. 'Then we will immediately close all other branches in the Netherlands.' There were about ten of them at that time. There were only a few franchise businesses left, including ours.”
He says with amusement: “All the interiors of the ten KFC stores that were closed were in a garden center for years. Tables, chairs, lighting, ovens… If something was broken in our restaurant, I always went there to get a replacement part.” Until the owner of the garden center got so fed up with it that Ron was allowed to take over all the stuff for 1.500 guilders. He then saved it himself. And he sold some of it again at a substantial profit.
So those stories. While the coffee is poured again and tompouces are served, Ron says to Michel: “Do you remember that dad once got into a big argument with that guy who ordered a 'milk shake' with pistachio flavor…?”
MASTERS MAGAZINE
In the summer edition of MASTERS an interview with Sven Kramer, a driving impression of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport and a study into the Effect of Max. But above all, it features people who bring light to the darkness. Such as Henk Jan Beltman, who took over Tony's Chocolonely because with a company you can make the world a more beautiful place. Chef Emile van der Staak, who has the ambition to change our food culture and therefore cooks with plants and vegetables that he obtains from the food forest. Designer Nienke Hoogvliet, who has introduced natural seaweed paint as an alternative to harmful textile paint. And Anna Nooshin, who criticizes the current social media culture of pretty pictures. In her documentary she also shares the less beautiful aspects of her life. All people who ask questions, hold up mirrors, take steps. Steps towards a healthier world and more understanding society.
