Meet Nick van der Sande, Account Manager at JASA

The new face at JASA

As a kid, he dreamed of becoming a pilot. Today, Nick van der Sande travels to customers across the food industry as JASA’s new account manager. Time to meet the go-getter on our sales team.

Who is Nick?

“I’m Nick van der Sande, and I’ve been working in the food industry for more than 13 years. At JASA, I handle everything related to packaging solutions, from the first idea to the final result. My territory? The Netherlands and Belgium.”

What do you do in your free time?

“I love spending time with my family, playing a game of padel, or taking on a project around the house. It’s a mix of downtime and staying busy.”

What makes Nick, Nick?

“I’m a doer. I always look at the possibilities, not the limitations.”

What did you want to be when you grew up?

“A pilot. Lots of travel, exploring the world, and always seeing new places. These days, though, I’d rather fly on four wheels than on wings.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“Get the basics right first. Then you can build, grow, and above all, keep looking ahead.”

What did you do before, and how did you get into sales?

“I now have more than 20 years of experience in field sales. My sales career started at Harrems Tools, selling tools. I quickly discovered that personal contact and variety really suit me. Always on the road, different customers, and no two days alike: that’s exactly my thing.”

What have all those years in field sales taught you?

“Listen carefully and ask the right questions. That’s the foundation of every good customer conversation.”

How did you end up at JASA?

“Through a job posting on the website. What appealed to me right away was the combination of packaging machines and complete lines. But also the customer contact and helping think through all kinds of challenges. That mix of technology, customers, and building something great together is what drew me in.”

What stood out in your first months at JASA?

“That JASA offers far more than I expected. The lines JASA has running at a large poultry processor really impressed me. For almost every packaging challenge, there’s a smart solution to be found, and that search is exactly what makes my job fun.”

Which customer visit stuck with you?

“We visited a customer about a sleever. But after a walk through their production floor, it turned out we could also help them with packaging and product handling.”

What exactly do you do as an account manager?

“I maintain relationships with existing customers, get to know new ones, and work with them to figure out where their challenges are. Then I team up with my colleagues to turn each question into a solution that fits. So my week is a mix of customer visits, meetings with prospects, and following up on open requests.”

What do customers usually come to you with?

“Questions about increasing capacity, automation, and efficiency, but also about flexibility and custom solutions. Every customer and every production line is different, so together we figure out which approach fits best.”

What don’t people know about your role?

“That being an account manager at JASA is much more than selling. You’re constantly solving a puzzle: what’s the customer’s challenge, and how can we find the best answer together?”

What’s the best part of your job?

“The variety! No two days and no two projects are the same. What I love most is working with the customer to go from challenge to solution, and then seeing JASA build a beautiful, automated production line. From idea to end result: that’s what gives me energy!”

To me, a good packaging line is…

“…more than just machines. It’s a complete solution that involves the customer fully from the very start. JASA takes care of everything from A to Z. By working closely together, we build not just a great line, but above all a long-term relationship.”

You can always call me if…

“…you run into something and want to bounce some ideas around. Whether it’s a packaging challenge, a new idea, or you just want someone to think it through with: it matters to me that customers know they can count on me.”

Want to get in touch?

Do you have a question about packaging, or would you like to discuss the options? Please contact JASA—we’d be pleased to put you in touch with Nick.