In January, wholesale business is generally quieter than usual, says Sales Manager Torben Sander of Neuenkirchener Heidekartoffel Handelsgesellschaft. "Sales to school canteens and communal catering continue steadily. However, it is quieter than in the spring or summer. Nevertheless, staple foods like potatoes and onions are always needed. However, the last months were too wet, resulting in many crops going bad. Red onions are in high demand right now, due to a significant shortage. Fortunately, we can rely on various producers from all over Germany for this product. Therefore, supply will be fine. However, the price for red onions is at least 50 percent higher than in recent years."
Managing Director René Riggers and Sales Manager Torben Sander (right) at their stand at the Hamburg wholesale market
Large calibers missing - steadily rising prices
NH currently sells yellow onions from both Germany and Spain, with the milder Spanish variety being more popular. "However, the prices for both products are quite high, which is also due to the lower harvest yield. In wholesale, larger calibers from 70+ are in demand, while in retail or household, calibers from 35 to 50 mm are purchased. However, larger onions are simply missing. Many businesses in Spain do not yet want to sell the onions because they are waiting for higher prices. So, prices are currently rising steadily. They are also increasing because freight costs always go up towards Christmas, as large quantities of citrus fruits will come in from Spain at this time. Usually, prices drop again after Christmas, but this is not the case this year. They continue to rise." The price is about 25 EUR/25 kg in sales.
Overall good business year 2023
The Christmas business is not as big as it was about ten years ago. "Customers did not buy as thoughtfully as they do today. Christmas parties still take place, but not on a large scale. Sales can still be made through Christmas markets, but this is hardly noticeable in the overall balance. All in all, we had a good year as expected. The summer was strong, the winter less so. We are satisfied." The company also sells shallots, which it sources from France. "Compared to onions, shallots are more of a side product. The interest is there, but the sales volume is nowhere near that of onions."
Good potato prices for producers and traders
Looking back, a very good year was also recorded with the main product, potatoes. "Our farmers got good money for their potatoes in 2023. This will also be the case in 2024. The pricing structure is set up so that both the producers and we can make appropriate money with the potatoes. It is also important to us to agree on a fair settlement with our farmers." The majority of the potatoes are sourced by the wholesale company from the Lüneburger Heide, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. "Our clientele can be found up to the Danish and partly also to the Polish border. We have a production operation and cooperate with farmers who grow potatoes on a large scale, so we are not dependent on imports or goods from other regions."
It is noticeable that we have made an "incredibly big step forward" with peeled potatoes. "On the one hand, this is because we are very strongly represented in communal catering. On the other hand, it is also due to the fact that many customers who used to buy a sack of potatoes now increasingly buy peeled goods. After all, kitchens are increasingly lacking the staff to take care of peeling. This is both a disadvantage and an advantage for us. Since we can grow, process, and market the potatoes ourselves, the advantages naturally outweigh."
Potato cultivation takes place in 90 to 95 percent of the Uelzen region; the goods are processed directly there as well. "Production is very sustainable, as the transport routes are relatively short and large storage facilities are available on site. This provides a central logistics system through which we can deliver goods to all of Germany, whether to Berlin, Hanover, Hamburg, etc."
For more information:
Torben Sander
Neuenkirchener Heidekartoffel Handelsgesellschaft mbH
Hamburg Wholesale Market, Gang B - Stand 63-66
Banksstraße 28
20097 Hamburg
Phone: +49 (0) 40 - 33 51 98
Fax: +49 (0) 40 - 32 44 18
[email protected]
https://die-nh.de