Hi! My name is Jeroen, I’m an Area Lead in the distribution team at Picnic. My journey with Picnic began nine years ago when I joined as the first Runner at our first hub in Amersfoort. At that time Picnic was still a very small-scale operation with just two vehicles, since then, Picnic has evolved into something much bigger, but the core values that drew me to Picnic haven’t changed.
The Early Days
When I started at Picnic, we did everything for the first time and it felt like we were constantly inventing the wheel. The rule we followed was simple: “Think, dare, do.” This meant learning and improving through a lot of trial and error. Every week, we made new improvements, whether in the way we delivered groceries or in the processes at the hub. A lot of the ideas that looked good on paper didn’t work as planned in reality, but by continuing to try new things and pushing for improvements, we kept growing.
My Growth at Picnic
The culture at the hub was very special. We all worked hard and had a lot of fun doing it. After my first summer at Picnic ended, I realized that this was more than just a summer job; it was an exciting place where I could see myself grow and develop. So, I decided to quit the part-time job I had before the summer and fully commit to Picnic. Soon after, I was asked if I wanted to take on more responsibility as an R+ (team leader).
After two years of working part-time as a R+ at Picnic, I completed my studies in Mechanical Engineering. At that time, I had a choice to make: continue in engineering or step out of my comfort zone and apply for the Hub Lead position at Picnic. And as you can probably guess, I chose the latter. I realized that my true passion lay in motivating and inspiring people, and Picnic was the company where I wanted to do that. Fortunately, Picnic saw the potential and gave me a chance to become Hub Lead at our hub in Rotterdam. Since I was new to managing teams, my time in Rotterdam was a crash course in leadership. I learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t work in leading a team effectively.
After a year in Rotterdam, Picnic was opening a new Hub in Hoofddorp. Setting up a brand-new hub and building a team from scratch was something I wanted to do, and in Hoofddorp, I got the chance to do just that. It was one of the highlights of my career and an experience I’ll never forget. Then, a little over five years ago, I took another step in my career when I became an Area Lead, using all the knowledge and experience I had gained in operations.
What I Do Now
As an Area Lead I have a wide range of tasks, from supporting the teams at multiple hubs with ensuring our operations run smoothly to continuously improving our hubs on a weekly basis. Some of the highlights have been setting up multiple hubs from the ground up and coaching new Hub Leads through their crash course in leadership.
Of course, there have also been obstacles along the way, such as managing difficult safety incidents and overcoming the growing pains that come with a fast-growing organization. But each of these challenges has made me a better leader and has taught me valuable skills in areas like incident management, team management and long-term KPI improvements.
Why Picnic?
Picnic is a rapidly growing company, and despite the fact that we are much bigger than in the early days, we still live by the rule that got us here: “Think, dare, do.” We have a culture that encourages creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement. Every day offers an opportunity to learn something new or find a better way to do things, and that’s what makes working here so exciting.
If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, be challenged, and make a real impact, I can’t recommend Picnic enough. It’s still that exciting place where you can grow and develop yourself. So, if you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, I encourage you to apply, and I hope to speak to you soon.
