The Belgian and Dutch fruit vegetable season is now gradually drawing to a close. "We are already offering our customers Spanish aubergines and cucumbers, but we are still sourcing tomatoes and peppers from neighbouring countries. We expect to switch completely to Spain in week 43," says Sertac Uralkaya, Managing Director of the family business of the same name based at the wholesale market in Cologne.
Loss of one third of sales
Marketing fruit vegetables is currently proving extremely difficult, Uralkaya continues. "We have less income with increased costs, whether customs duties, employee costs or transport. This is because the order quantity per head has fallen significantly as a result of inflation. We are around 20 per cent above the average price, not only for fruit vegetables but also for many other products, which is why our customers are buying more cautiously. A popular item such as the Elite tomato from Belgium is still in demand, but people are trying to get it at a lower price. To make matters worse, there is no cheaper alternative for many items, especially as we don't want to compromise on quality."
Uralkaya currently describes the pepper market as 'moderate'.
The wholesaler estimates that this has led to a 30-40 per cent drop in sales. "It is generally a very difficult year. We all thought it couldn't be worse than 2023, but now we have to realise that 2023 was much better compared to the current financial year. Unfortunately, we can only hope for better times," says Uralkaya, who mainly supplies caterers in the greater Cologne area with fresh fruit and vegetables of all kinds.
Belgian elite tomatoes and Dutch cherry vine tomatoes.
Demise of the wholesale market
In addition to the usual ups and downs of day-to-day trading, the inevitable demise hangs over the Cologne wholesale market site like the sword of Damocles. Following the latest failed attempts to keep the wholesale market open, it will indeed cease trading by the end of 2025. A difficult situation, Uralkaya confirmed on enquiry. "We want to join forces with around 20 market companies and acquire a new location elsewhere in the greater Cologne area. But there have been no concrete plans so far."
Photo credit: Uralkaya Gemüse & Obst Großhandel
Further information:
Sertac Uralkaya
Uralkaya Gemüse & Obst Großhandel
Cologne Wholesale Market
Phone: +49 163 3597508
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.uralkaya.de