Go-Tan

Go-Tan is a Dutch food brand and family business that makes authentic Asian seasonings, sauces, coconut products, noodles and snacks for the European market. The company grew out of the enterprising Go family, who ran a biscuit and pastry shop, a peanut shop and traded in bread, flour, vegetables and whiskey before emigrating. In 1950, grandmother and grandfather Go came to the Netherlands with seven children and settled in Naarden, where the smell of their cooking filled the neighbourhood. In 1954, father Frans Go started 'Go & Zoon' with his grandpa in the garage behind the family home, baking Indonesian snacks such as Katjang Shanghai, Bumbu Gado Gado, Krupuk and Teng Teng with the help of all the sisters and brothers. A year later, Grandma Go opened Restaurant 'Hokkie' in Amsterdam, and in 1956 production moved to Gerard Doustraat in Amsterdam, where the family also ran a small shop called 'Warung Kita' selling products like Santen and Seroendeng. A turning point came in 1960 when the department store de Bijenkorf ordered so many Shanghai nuts that Frans Go invented a new production method to meet demand. Over the following decades the business expanded its range and reach, becoming a familiar name in Dutch and wider European kitchens. Today Go-Tan describes itself as 'a foodloving Asian family' and sells chili sauces, wok sauces, seasonings, coconut products, noodles, snacks and side dishes. Its website highlights a sriracha product and a collection of favourite recipes. The company presents itself as a real family business with a long-term, sustainable outlook, emphasising 100% natural products, fair trade and care for people and the environment. Its corporate social responsibility messaging stresses that 'food is love' and that good food brings people together, while its Asian cultural view treats employees, suppliers and consumers as family. Go-Tan remains privately held and family-run, with no public listing.

The Go family has always been enterprising. Before emigrating, they ran a biscuit and pastry shop, a peanut shop and traded in bread, flour, vegetables and whiskey; a photograph shows Grandma running a fashion store at age 28. In 1950, grandmother and grandfather Go came to the Netherlands with seven children and moved to the Van Lijndenlaan in Naarden, living in a normal corner house with a garage behind it. The whole neighbourhood enjoyed the smell of cooking that rose from the kitchen and garage. In 1954, father Frans Go started 'Go & Zoon' with his grandpa in the garage. With the help of all sisters and brothers they baked different Indonesian snacks such as Katjang Shanghai, Bumbu Gado Gado, Krupuk and Teng Teng. In 1955, Grandma Go opened Restaurant 'Hokkie' ('Luck') at the Single in Amsterdam, and the whole family helped in the restaurant until late at night. In 1956, the production of 'Go & Zoon' moved to Gerard Doustraat in Amsterdam, where they also ran a small shop named 'Warung Kita' selling products like Santen and Seroendeng. In 1960, because de Bijenkorf ordered so many Shanghai nuts, Frans Go invented a new production method. The company's own history timeline continues with entries for 1962, 1966, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1984, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019, marking further developments in the business. Over the decades Go-Tan grew into a producer of authentic Asian seasonings for millions of people in Europe, describing itself as a foodloving Asian family. Its corporate social responsibility page states that it has been focused on fair trade throughout its existence and works purposefully on sustainability, producing 100% natural products with respect for people and the environment so that it can continue for generations to come.

• 1960

  Because de Bijenkorf orders many Shanghai nuts, Frans Go invents a new production method.

• 1956

  Production moves to Gerard Doustraat in Amsterdam; the family also runs the shop 'Warung Kita'.

• 1955

  Grandma Go opens Restaurant 'Hokkie' in Amsterdam.

• 1954

  Father Frans Go starts 'Go & Zoon' with his grandpa in the garage, baking Indonesian snacks.

• 1950

  Grandmother and grandfather Go come to the Netherlands with seven children and settle in Naarden.

• 1936

  The Go family runs a biscuit and pastry shop, a peanut shop and trades in bread, flour, vegetables and whiskey.

Authentic Asian seasonings and food products made by a Dutch family business with a long-term, sustainable and fair-trade outlook.

• Chili sauces

• Wok sauces

• Seasonings

• Coconut products

• Noodles

• Snacks

• Side dishes

• Sriracha

1. 1Go-Tan Homego-tan.com
2. 2Go-Tan Corporate Social Responsibilitygo-tan.com
3. 3Go-Tan Historygo-tan.com
4. 4Go-Tan Productsgo-tan.com
5. 5Wikidata Q137442291wikidata.org