After nearly two years of closed doors, Denmark’s foodservice industry is booming again this summer with fruit and vegetables in high demand, but increased logistical and heating costs are placing pressure on prices making it challenging. “This is especially impacting ripe avocadoes with both sea freight, electricity and heating costs as well as land freight transport costs that have increased substantially,” according to Kim Rene Hansen, co-owner of Nordic Fruit in Denmark.
Nordic Fruit, co-owned by Dole Nordic, specialises in supplying avocadoes to Denmark through a very close relationship with Nature’s Pride. They are known for the Eat Me lines with mangoes, berries and chillies all packed to customer’s needs supplied on a daily basis. It includes some programmes with wholesale and retail which operates on day to day as planned.
“The foodservice industry in Denmark is currently very busy. If you want to reserve a dinner table, you need to be out in good time. There is even a lack of chefs and waiters, this shows just how busy it is in the food service sector. People are going out to eat. The Danish economy is strong, people are travelling again. It is difficult to get a holiday in summer, everything is booked. It means all wheels of the economy are running fully. However, electricity and gas prices have increased.
"We face high prices due to increased transport costs, which makes it difficult to talk about prices. For retail prices, they try to keep it down. We have some fixed prices for produce. In the case of ripe avocadoes it is not only sea freight that increased but also the electricity and heating costs have become extremely different from 4 months ago. The land transport from the Netherlands to Denmark has increased by 29%. It has an impact,” explains Hansen.
He says there is a lot happening in Denmark in terms of fruit sales with strawberries currently in season. “We supply retail with all the different categories of avocadoes, from organic, green, ripe, to packed. So far our first five months give us a very good idea for this year, with sales and trends we see…our hopes are high.”
“We see a growing demand on many levels, not only on quality, but also on sustainability and the whole social responsibility, that drives the consumers, when they choose where to buy their produce, or to choose the next restaurant are important. So my message is very strong…think ahead, these things/issues matters more and more in normal consumers mind, because it really makes a difference, not only in the farming counties, livelihood etc., but also makes a difference on the climate. Maybe you will also sleep better,” are Hansen final words.
For more information:
Kim Rene Hansen
Nordic Fruit in Denmark
Tel: +45 77 31 59 00POte
Email: [email protected]
www.nordicfruit.dk