"Pickling cabbage was imperative for surviving the winter and getting sufficient vitamin C during those dark days. These days, people mainly eat sauerkraut because they like it. It's an important ingredient for meal producers and retailers who can distinguish themselves with it," begins Esther Molenaar of FA. Molenaar. This Dutch company has been importing Hengstenberg products for about 20 years. This German producer manufactures mild pre-cooked sauerkraut, red cabbage, and pickles.
Esther Molenaar with the various Hengstenberg products her company exclusively imports.
FA. Molenaar imports Hengstenberg products directly from Germany in large ten-liter cans, small 580-ml cans, and 400-g pouches. They are proud to have had the popular brand in their assortment for many years. They are now exclusive importers, so they want to develop the cooperation with Hengstenberg further, says Esther. "Hengstenberg Mildessa Wine Sauerkraut is the best-known product, but they also have red cabbage, pickles, and other pickled vegetables that are healthy, tasty, and easy to process," she says.
Hengstenberg is a family business that has been making sauerkraut since 1876. "They've perfected the recipe. They've put much thought into preserving sauerkraut for as long as possible and packaging it while keeping it tasty. It's a wonderful company that suits our company's values well too. We're always looking for the best, most delicious products. Our 85-year-old motto isn't 'For better, find Molenaar' for nothing."
Flavor and convenience are what make Hengstenberg's products truly stand out. The products are pasteurized, thus, pre-cooked, which reduces preparation time considerably. "We have many meal manufacturers as clients who use, for example, Hengstenberg wine sauerkraut in their vegetable mashes," Esther continues.
"They hardly have to do anything with it during preparation. The straight red cabbage, and combined with apple, is popular too. This is a delicious but very laborious product to make. Hardly anyone, besides my mother, cooks that themselves anymore."
Pausterizing the product and then canning it also extends its shelf life to as long as two years. "That makes ordering large quantities interesting because you can use it for at least another 18 months," Molenaar says. "If you order a pallet and it doesn't sell as well, you won't lose the product. Plus, tin holds up very well as a packaging material during handling."
The ten-liter cans are ideal for bulk users. Consumers are familiar with the distinctive Hengstenberg by seeing them in stores. "They fit well with plenty of specialist companies that want to use these products to distinguish themselves from supermarkets regarding flavor and presentation in cans and stand-up pouches. We carry a standard range, but we can, in consultation, also import other products from Hengstenberg. Customers are welcome to contact us about that," Esther concludes.
For more information:
Fa. Molenaar
Hall 23, 1 Jan van Krimpenweg
2031 CE, Haarlem, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 235 322 173
22 Schuit
1724 BD, Oudkarspel, NL
Tel.: +31 (0) 226 426 465
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.molenaardappelen.nl