Geannys Gonzales (1976)

General Manager

Cuba is my homeland, a land full of rhythm. I come from a musical family and grew up with music.
Studying at the school of music in Havana was a logical choice for me and I performed best at percussion. Though I didn’t become a professional musician, I still enjoy making music. Together with my son, I play the conga drums regularly. Conga drums are tall drums. We improvise authentic Latin music and explore all kinds of rhythms.

I had fallen in love with Holland and in 1999 I emigrated from Cuba to Holland. My first job was a warehouseman in a big cheese factory and quite quickly I became an assistant at the after-sales service of the export department where I was responsible for orders, planning and transport. In 2004, I wanted a change and started working for AVH. There was a big set of drums in the office and I felt at home right away.

Music was the first thing that connected Arnauld and me, doing business was the second. We both deal with our customers in the same friendly and personal way.

At AVH work is quite divers. Together with Franck and Arnauld I am responsible for purchase and sales. I focus mainly on the Spanish speaking countries and I pioneer in those where we are not yet present. Half of my working hours I am in the office and the other half I travel. I visit customers and go to fairs like the SIAL in Paris, the Anuga in Cologne and the Gourmet in Barcelona.

AVH trades in food products with an additional value like sheep and goat dairy products that are tolerated by people with a cow milk allergy. Organic products are also part of our product range. We do not trade in anonymous products and we respect the passion our producers put into them. We believe that history enriches a product and that is why we love to work with family firms. Perhaps we even participate in fair trade already since we  always look for balance: if all parties are content with their price, we are capable of creating business relationships that will last.

As far as facts are concerned, our company has got a solid knowledge. Worldwide we have got a network of buyers and suppliers. We know our market thoroughly, we work transparently and we advise our customers adequately. We like to participate in innovations and new export markets.

What I have learned at AVH is to be open to other cultures. We are unprejudiced and give everybody a fair chance, values which I will definitely pass on to my son.