While the Christmas-related business is less significant in recent years, the month of December remains a thrilling and profitable sales month in the vegetable and fruit trade. “The best sellers are all kinds of lamb’s salad and vegetables,” says Denis Piper who is the sales manager at the Frischezentrum Melzig located in Aschaffenburg. “French cauliflower is scarce and the price is 30% to 40% higher than the previous year. This is why we’ve shifted to Italian product. It’s because Italian imported produce like kohlrabi, the endive and radicchio, are offered for sale at regular prices.”
Exotic exotics that aren’t normally found in the market can be well-loved in the days leading up to Christmas, according to Piper. “Demand isn’t significantly more than the norm for exotics like mangoes or avocados. They’re not something I’d consider exotic anymore. In the meantime, consumers are shifting to specialty items like pitahaya, grenadilla and carambola, and Lychees. For this latter one We are anticipating the first deliveries in just a few days and also items shipped via air.”
Denis Piper is sales manager for Melzig Fresh Produce Center. Melzig fresh produce centre and currently sells Madegassian Lychees among many other items.
Stone fruit imported from abroad is on the rise
According Piper Piper Piper, sweet cherries as well as stone fruit imported from the world are becoming increasingly popular among customers. “We have been trading in all stone fruits which includes apricots, peaches nectarines, plums or plums from South Africa, with the last one being the most sought-after. We’ve also started offering Chilean cherries since the beginning of week 49. Even though cherries aren’t an item that is a major part of our client base, i.e. for the food service or retail food industries We offer them all through the winter months from a variety of nations of origin like South Africa, the USA, Canada and South Africa.”
Overall everyone at Frischezentrum Melzig can look back at a tumultuous but impressive sales year. Piper: “The last few years have been very turbulent as a result of numerous crises which was not more than the previous year in this regard. The price has seen significant increase for a wide range of goods that have dampened the spirits consequently. Certain foods, like potato and carrots, remain pricey even late in the year. However, buying power was extremely low, especially towards the start of the year. This resulted in an intense price battle within the retail food sector as well as increased marketing campaigns in the lower-cost sector. The situation improved in the course of the entire year.”
Figures and nectarines of south-western hemisphere.
Workers’ shortages and increasing cost of freight
The company that is medium-sized in size concentrates on supplying the regional markets for food as well as hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. A shortage of skilled employees is becoming more apparent across both the food catering and retail sectors. “At the at the same time, efficiency is increasing so there’s a lack of employees in the kitchen. The convenience is also growing in popularity with consumers like with bowls and cups for fruit,” explains Piper, who source Freshcut items from producers in the region.
Additionally, the rise in freight costs influences the current events of the German trade in vegetables and fruit. “Freight prices have already been increased each year during December. Alongside these normal price increases, we will be facing the increase of tolls that will take effect from January 1. The final result is that this increase does not only impact the delivery of our products and delivery, but also throughout the entire process in the chain of value.” Piper concludes.
Pictures: Fresh produce center Melzig
For more information:
Denis Piper
Frischezentrum Melzig
Magnolienweg 46,
63741 Aschaffenburg
Tel. : 0 60 21 / 150 87 – 0
Fax: 0 60 21 / 150 87 – 10
Email: info@melzig-gmbh.de
www.melzig-gmbh.de
Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies