If a fire broke out anywhere in Koekelare, the Depreitere family would know about it.

“Take a look at this one, it’s quite special,” says Kristof Depreitere, pointing to an old photograph. “That’s the fire brigade siren. Back then, there was no alert system to summon firefighters. The siren was installed on the mill because it was the highest point in Koekelare. Whenever there was a fire, it would sound the alarm and call the firefighters into action.”

The siren stood atop his grandfather’s mill.

Omer the Miller

“It all started in 1935,” Kristof explains. “This mill is where the story began. My grandfather was a miller. Farmers arrived by horse and cart, bringing grain to be milled. Everything was processed right here.”

His grandfather, Omer, worked as a representative for the Boerenbond. The farmers’ organisation had already established a purchasing and sales cooperative in 1901, allowing farmers to join forces and protect themselves against economic uncertainty. Omer and his wife, Alma, raised fourteen children.

“A very large family,” Kristof laughs.

“My grandfather handled the Boerenbond activities, as people called them at the time. My grandmother Alma managed the Raiffeisen bank office, which later became CERA.”

Alma ran a banking office while helping manage the milling business and raising fourteen children under one roof.

Sacks Weighing Up to 100 Kilos

The second generation inherited a job that required plenty of muscle. Kristof points to a photograph of his father carrying a sack on his back.

“We always joke about that picture. I tell him, ‘That must have been a sack full of feathers.’ He loves that.”

The reality was anything but light.

“You can see how much manual labour was involved in those days. Those sacks weighed between 80 and 100 kilos. Forklifts and pallet stackers simply didn’t exist yet, so everything had to be moved by hand.”

Even driving demanded physical strength.

“There was no power steering either, so driving a truck was a workout in itself.”

The photograph also shows Uncle Daniel, who worked in the mill alongside the family. The sacks were filled using a dispensing system, tied closed by hand, and then carried to farmers.

It was around this time that the customer base began to change.

“My parents, Jef and Brigitte, took over the business and gradually started offering products for private customers as well,” says Kristof. “People no longer saw their gardens only as places to grow food. Gardens became spaces for relaxation and enjoyment too.”

A Store for a New Generation

By the 1980s, the business had evolved into a fully fledged retail store.

“My parents made the decision to build a shop that focused on products for private customers.”

It was a remarkable step, especially because they were at a stage in life when they did not necessarily need to expand.

“They were already at an age when it wasn't really necessary anymore. But they knew the next generation was coming.”

What Became of the Mill

Over time, the mill itself took on a new purpose.

“The mill eventually lost its sails, and the building became part of a redevelopment project. Today, it houses KBC offices and is connected to a residential apartment building.”

Teamwork, the West Flemish Way

For the past five years, Kristof’s partner Tina has been working alongside him in the business.

“We get up together, have breakfast together, and come to the store together. If you see one of us, you'll see the other,” Kristof says with a smile.

“We complement each other perfectly,” Tina adds. “We're truly a team.”

Today, the store is recognised as a showcase for West Flemish regional products.

“Years ago, people would visit friends with a bouquet of flowers,” says Kristof. “Now they stop by for a gift basket filled with local treats. Cookies, jam, a bottle of West Flemish wine.”

Tina oversees the range of products: custom-made gift baskets, ready-made hampers, pâtés, dairy products, wines from Monteberg and traditional Bruges rusks.

Beside the checkout stands a refrigerator stocked with chilled bottles.

“Perfect for a romantic dinner that evening,” she says.

While many products are sourced through Aveve, local producers remain close to their hearts.

“We think it's important to put local products in the spotlight as well,” Tina explains. “It gives customers the opportunity to discover what's made right here in our region.”

Sunday Mornings at the Kitchen Table

One tradition has survived through the generations, and it started around the family breakfast table.

“Farmers would gather at our kitchen table on Sunday mornings while we were eating our breakfast rolls,” Kristof recalls.

“When you grow up like that, it becomes second nature to greet every customer. Without even realising it, you learn how to connect with people.”

A small detail in the store still reflects that philosophy today.

The manager's office is not tucked away in the back. Instead, it sits in a glass-enclosed space right at the heart of the store. From there, the family remains visible, approachable, and connected to their customers.

“We Had Another Good Laugh”

“Whenever I come downstairs, I still enjoy spending time with the customers,” says Jef.

“I often tell them, ‘Let's have a good laugh.’ If we've shared a laugh, we can all carry on with our day.”

More than ninety years after Omer and Alma laid the foundations of the business, that spirit lives on. What has been passed down is more than a mill, a shop, or a family business. It is a place where people meet, where stories are shared, where help is offered, and where a warm welcome is guaranteed.

That culture of service, hospitality and genuine connection remains the driving force behind the business to this day.