Two brothers, one passion: How Koreman's Limoncello from Breda became the best of the world

What began with lemon peels in their parents' shed grew into a global sensation. Meet Thom and Frank Koreman, the brothers behind KOREMAN’s Limoncello.

An entrepreneur's dream

Thom and Frank Koreman have had a passion for entrepreneurship since they were young. With parents who were entrepreneurs, ambition was in their DNA, although no one expected this to manifest in the form of limoncello. "We wanted to make liqueurs as teenagers," Frank laughs. "It actually started as an excuse to drink it ourselves when we were 14 or 15 years old."

The idea for their own company came about on a warm summer day at a terrace in Breda. "We were served a factory-made limoncello and thought: we can do this better," Thom and Frank say. And so their adventure began, combining Frank's extensive experience in hospitality and marketing with Thom's talent for numbers.

From shed to global fame

The first steps were far from perfect. “We were peeling lemons at our parents' house because we didn’t have the space ourselves. A lot of room is needed for all the mess it brings,” Frank says. What started as experimenting in a shed quickly grew into more than the brothers had expected. The shed became too small, their old bedrooms and their parents' living room became storage spaces, and soon they received requests from friends and acquaintances for a ‘small box’.

Their first sales point was symbolic: the liquor store in Terheijde where their father always bought his wine. It turned out to be a pleasant yet educational experience. “We didn’t have barcodes,” Thom explains. “Fortunately, we were able to solve that well.” From that first sales point, they expanded to hundreds of liquor stores and hospitality venues, with Breda as their home base.

People who enjoy a dinner and Koreman's Limoncello

They love to tell the story of two brothers from the neighbourhood.

Breda as a base of operations

Although Thom and Frank went to study in Maastricht and Amsterdam, they always returned to Breda. "This is where we liked to go out," says Frank. The goodwill of Breda's entrepreneurs also played a crucial role. "They are happy to tell the story of two brothers from the area." That has really put them on the map.

Headstrong and successful

In addition to the quality of KOREMAN's Limoncello, their approach is also unique. They are headstrong, in the positive sense of the word. They have always sought direct contact with customers, which is unusual in this industry, Thom explains. “This way we learn what is important to them and can respond accordingly.” This headstrongness took them from a shed, to a location near the NAC Breda stadium, and now to their current place in Heilaar. Here, they not only produce limoncello but a complete “cello-range,” including variants with other luxury citrus fruits on which they base their citrus liqueurs.

Workshops and more

In addition to making limoncello, the brothers also hold popular workshops on making limoncello, which are attended by people from all over the Netherlands. "Participants often turn it into a whole weekend in Breda," Frank proudly shares. The workshops not only strengthen the bond with their limoncello enthusiasts but also put Breda on the map as a destination.

Quality above all

The secret behind Koreman’s KOREMAN’s Limoncello lies in the ingredients and the process. KOREMAN is the only artisan producer in the Netherlands that does not use artificial additives. “Our lemons are peeled in the same way as in Italy, with machines we have invested in,” says Thom. The juice from the lemons isn’t wasted: it is used in syrups by partners such as Zoet, Zuur, Zout.

Bottle and shot glass with Koreman's Limoncello. There is also a lemon on the side.

Future plans: bigger and more diverse

The ambitions of Thom and Frank reach far. In 2025, they will launch a new product that is actually indispensable among the current cellos – although they don’t want to reveal anything about it yet. In addition, they dream of a Christmas pop-up store in the heart of Breda, where they can bring the atmosphere of their brand even closer to their customers. Their limoncello is already available in more than 100 liquor stores and hospitality venues, but that’s not where it stops. "We are still working on reinventing our brand," says Thom.

From a warm summer day on a terrace in Breda to the best limoncello in the world. In 2021, the brothers won gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

Thom and Frank Koreman demonstrate that entrepreneurship, passion, and a dash of stubbornness are the perfect ingredients for success. With Breda as their trusted base, the world is at their feet. As far as the brothers are concerned, the success of KOREMAN's Limoncello is just the beginning.