Belgian cooperative BelOrta's fresh produce is exported to 75 countries in Europe and around the world. The company also exports to the UK, one of the reasons that they were at the recent IFE in the Excel in London, where a section was created for the fresh produce sector this year.
"It is a major event, although it's a very small section for fresh produce but for us, it is important to be here as we see a growing number of UK customers at BelOrta," explained Didier Lepoutre, Export Manager at the cooperative. "A lot of the fresh produce is found in the wholesale markets in London such as New Covent Garden and Spitalfields and also throughout the rest of the UK. This is partly due to the efforts of several export companies which are customers of BelOrta."
Didier Lepoutre and top chef Luciana Berry
"We are being approached directly from the UK looking for our products, one of our main products is tomatoes of which we have 40 different types. For the IFE we invited some renowned chefs to London to cook with our Ruby Red variety which is a very sweet plum vine tomato with red flesh and high brix, people love it. We also have a lot of strawberries, bell peppers, leeks, and a lot of Conference pears. We send a wide range of produce to the UK."
The IFE is an event for the hospitality industry with exhibitors from all over the world, showcasing ingredients, food and drinks as well as services. Didier said that by being at the event he hopes that people will get to know BelOrta, and if that brings new clients then all the better.
"Our main reason for being in London is to increase brand awareness and to put, amongst others, our Ruby Red tomato in the spotlight and of course to support our clients and customers who are exporting to the UK, they are the ones doing the work and it is because of them that we have produced in the UK market. We also have some direct lines to the UK. We are here to present our produce and be seen and to give support to the companies who are selling our produce."
For more information:
Didier Lepoutre
BelOrta
Tel: +32 15 565320
[email protected]
www.belorta.be