Laurens began his career at Duvel as a trainee, rotating through export, logistics, and marketing. “The 1.5-year traineeship was the perfect way to get to know the brewery from different angles,” he says. During one of these rotations, he had the chance to explore Duvel Moortgat abroad, supporting the integration of JARR Kombucha into the existing UK structure in London.
That opportunity marked the start of Laurens’ international journey within Duvel Moortgat. After his traineeship, he moved permanently to London to help the UK team expand its business. Then in 2024, he swapped the UK for Italy, joining Birrificio del Ducato as Commercial Director.
“It’s fascinating to see how markets differ,” he says. “Italy is still very wine-focused, but beer consumption per capita is growing and I love the opportunity to develop the market further.”
Now, nearly a year into his role, Laurens is the only Belgian in a 20+ person team. “I had to learn the language from scratch and adapt to a new culture, both professionally and personally. But Duvel Moortgat supports me every step of the way. The company truly invests in young people and offers real opportunities to grow and switch roles. I’m grateful for the trust I’ve been given and excited to keep growing here.”
