"These visits give our buyers a better understanding of the work of our producers"

The Ame Haslé Group's buyers and sales teams recently took a behind-the-scenes look at how the Group sources its organic vegetables. "We took the opportunity to visit the warehouse of our partner specializing in organic vegetables. He works with passion and commitment with about 40 local producers in the region, a unique network that enables us to offer a wide range of fresh organic produce that meet the needs of our clients," explains Sylvain Hoarau, managing director of the Ame Haslé Group.

Photo credit: Ame Haslé Group

Strengthening the buyer/producer relationship and guaranteeing traceability
Visits are organized by the buyers, who work closely with the producers to select products that meet the Group's quality criteria and the expectations of its clients. "Our sales teams also take part in these visits. This gives them a better understanding of the producers' work and a precise view of production methods, so that they can promote their know-how to our clients. We create a bond of trust and develop a special relationship with our producers, based on exchange and proximity. Understanding the skills and specific characteristics of our producers enables us to better adapt our offer to the needs of catering and distribution professionals. These visits are also an integral part of our approach to ensure transparency and traceability. Finally, promoting local, responsible production means we can support short distribution channels and sustainable farming practices, in line with current societal expectations. In short, these visits help to create a more humane, responsible and high-quality supply chain."

Photo credit: Ame Haslé Group

Organic and conventional
While the visit focuses on the Group's organic range, Ame Haslé also offers a wide range of conventional fresh produce from local, regional, national and international sources. "In terms of fruit and vegetables, our offer includes 1st range products, 4th and 5th range processed products, as well as specific products such as aromatic herbs and edible flowers. This diversity guarantees a response tailored to the requirements of food professionals and retailers. Our entire range is available in organic production, from the best sources. Each organic product is subject to a rigorous selection process, based on demanding referencing with our partners, guaranteeing their compliance with the audits and traceability tests required for organic certification. To go even further, our Quality-Safety-Environment department scrupulously monitors compliance with certifications, as well as the strict application of internal processes, from product approval to storage and delivery, in order to ensure impeccable quality throughout the chain."

Photo credit: Ame Haslé Group

Sales of organic products to double by 2024
Although the company does not specialize in organic farming, its sales of organic products doubled in 2024 and now account for 5% of its turnover. "We have three key commitments when it comes to organic produce: offering 100% certified, traced and secure organic supplies to guarantee total transparency; respecting seasonal patterns, so as to offer products that are in tune with nature and production cycles; and supporting our producers in their transition to organic farming, while encouraging the continuous improvement of their practices and the sustainable development of their farms. We are a distribution network dedicated in particular to the catering sector, where the growing adoption of products that comply with the EGALIM law is becoming essential, especially organic and HEV-certified products. Our main goal is to meet the diverse needs of our clients. We therefore offer a wide range of products, including both organic and conventional quality products. In addition to organic products, we also work with producers who adopt environmentally-friendly practices without being certified organic. This enables us to support sustainable approaches while maintaining competitive prices."

Photo credit: Ame Haslé Group