Castro works for both very large and smaller companies and organisations. Some examples:
Flink | Communications & Lobby
Flink delivers groceries quickly that can be ordered online through its app or website. The “flash delivery company” engaged Castro Communications in late 2021. At the time, there were many discussions with various municipalities about where delivery companies could or could not set up shop. Different municipalities dealt with the flash delivery phenomenon very differently. Some saw it as retail, others did not. The result: a lot of confusion about where you could or could not open a location. Castro has been supporting Flink for three years now with contacts with governments and the media. For the Netherlands and regularly for the headquarters.
By making many contacts and having conversations with aldermen and officials of all the more than 40 municipalities where Flink operates and by pursuing a proactive media policy, the image about flash delivery has improved enormously. It led, for example, to extensive interviews in the Volkskrant and the Telegraaf in 2023 with Flink director Kiesler about how the company ensured all the improvements.
Flink itself has grown so fast that more than a million Dutch people have now ordered from the company.
“Flink has become very popular in a short period of time. We have a lot of contact with the environment of our hubs, the media and the government. Castro is helping us with that excellently. Fast and pragmatic.”
Robin Kiesler | General Manager Flink Netherlands
ENERGYNEST | Communications
ENERGYNEST is a Norwegian energy company that uses heat storage to help make industry more sustainable. It contracted Castro to become better known, increase network and overall reputation in the Netherlands:
“ENERGYNEST accelerates the energy transition of industry with thermal storage and renewable heat. Since 2023, we have also been active in the Netherlands. Castro helps us to become known in the Netherlands. They do that with a lot of knowledge of the energy sector and a strong network with the media and government. Thank you!”
Mareike Schumm | Head of Marketing & Communications ENERGYNEST
J&J Innovative Medicine Nederland | Communications
J&J Innovative Medicine Netherlands (formerly Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson) approached Castro in the summer of 2023. The company asked if, in the run-up to the Lower House elections, we could organise an election activity around the theme of healthcare. In the end, in consultation with J&J and the other two clients (Amgen and MSD), the choice was made for an election debate. The organisation of the debate ended up being a co-production between Castro and New Balls Please Netherlands (our joint venture together with Belgian event organiser New Balls Please). Humberto Tan acted as debate leader and Frits Huffnagel as co-host. Participants included Fleur Agema (PVV), Mona Keijzer (BBB) and Sophie Hermans (VVD). Many thousands of guests watched live online via telegraaf.nl. NPO found the recording and the debate so successful that the broadcaster broadcast the election debate many times until the elections on NPO Politics.The success of the debate in The Hague was repeated in April 2024 ahead of the European elections. In Brussels, Castro EU and New Balls Please organised another debate, this time with Frits Wester as debate leader. The list leaders of D66 and NSC participated, as well as directly-electable candidates from VVD and BBB. Once again, NPO broadcast the debate many times.
Koen Venekamp, Lead Government Affairs & Policy at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Netherlands:
“I experienced the partnership with Castro and New Balls Please as incredibly pleasant. It was a conscious choice, because they combine an excellent network in politics and media with a lot of experience in organising events and all the technology involved. Castro and New Balls Please do not settle for a six, they go for a top result and, as far as I am concerned, they succeeded.”
Pathé | Lobby
Pathé engaged Castro for stakeholder liaison support, with a focus on the theaters’ immediate surroundings:
“For a company like Pathé, it is important to have good contacts with the surrounding area of our theaters. We asked Castro Communicatie to guide our theater managers in this regard. The main message from Stefan and Frits: “Make friends when you don’t need them yet.” Our managers have received many useful tips and are very enthusiastic.”
Jacques Hoendervangers | CEO Pathé Netherlands
Smart Delta Resources | Communications
Smart Delta Resources is a cross-border cooperation between companies, port, knowledge institutions, network operators and governments in the Scheldt-Delta region. Their ambition is a competitive, climate-neutral and circular industry by 2050.
An ambitious goal, which created a major challenge: how can Smart Delta Resources communicate this mission and vision as effectively as possible, both internally towards and with all members, and to the outside world, including policymakers?
This is why they approached Castro Communications. By developing a clear positioning, storyline, and communication strategy, we helped Smart Delta Resources articulate their ambitious goals in a comprehensible and appealing way. This forms the basis for all Smart Delta Resources’ communications.
Castro Communications is now helping to further develop the positioning into a clear communication approach, communication tools and a media campaign.
“Castro Communications’ expertise and hands-on approach enabled us to translate our message into a clear and convincing strategy. Many people are impressed by how well our vision is now articulated and further implemented. It really felt like Castro was part of our team.”
– Onno Sinke, communications manager Smart Delta Resources
Uber | Communications
Since 2021, Uber has partnered with Castro to enhance their communications efforts. They sought our expertise to help strategize and execute their communications activities.
Our work with Uber includes an impactful EU stakeholder campaign in Brussels, to strengthen Uber’s engagement with European policymakers. We have also assisted in Uber’s succesful market launch in an EU member state, coordinating press releases, media events, and spokesperson training to ensure a unified and highly visible communication strategy across European markets.
These efforts demonstrate our ongoing collaboration with Uber, as we continue to support them in navigating and effectively communicating within the European landscape.
“Castro epitomizes trust and excellence in translating our strategic vision into actionable plans, particularly in expanding our footprint across new EU territories. Their expertise in advisory coupled with a robust network of local partners ensures impeccable execution at every step.”
Rick Janse Kok | Uber, Head of Communications Northern Europe