HAK Fresh has become well-known in the Netherlands thanks to taking over vanRijsingenfreshservice's activities. The company has, however, been active in the freshly cut vegetables category for the food industry and food service for many years. By adding fresh, grilled, and roasted vegetables to their assortment, they focus on a specific channel. "We make these products, especially for food service," says Rogier Hilkes, HAK Fresh's director.
© HAK Fresh
The company offers a wide range of convenience products based on vegetables and legumes, including fresh processed meal components. "Just about every kind of restaurant has a noticeably broad demand for convenience products based on ready-to-use vegetables. Sadly, the industry's staff shortage is worsening, so our products offer kitchen staff relief and convenience. Our vegetables mean chefs can still work with fresh, flavorful ingredients without having to spend time on additional tasks like washing, cutting, and grilling."
© HAK Fresh
The wide ready-to-(h)eat grilled and roasted vegetable assortment is sold via large wholesalers within the Dutch hospitality segment. "We have a team of six Culinary Sales Representatives, each responsible for a region. They visit various types of businesses to inspire chefs and show them how easy it is to introduce more vegetable products into their existing concepts," explains Rogier. The company's product development team also holds inspiration sessions for customers.
© HAK Fresh
© HAK Fresh
Lowering the threshold
HAK Fresh is sure that to bring vegetable consumption in the food service market to a higher level, the threshold must be lowered for restaurants and consumers. According to Rogier, that step towards grilled or roasted has already been partly taken in England. "We've run several pilots at some larger hotels in the Netherlands and see that we must inspire chefs and help them develop recipes in the Dutch market. Our culinary representatives do this. When a buyer works with the product, that volume increases week after week. That means consumers are embracing the idea."
© HAK Fresh
Singles and mixes
HAK Fresh has 1kg gastronomical packs for food professionals, with smaller 300g packages available at self-service wholesale outlets. All varieties are offered fresh. "There are several mixed packages, such as the ratatouille with bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion, or the mix of harder vegetables: sweet potato, parsnip, and carrot. The ratatouille mix is very versatile, so it finds its way into many applications, like sandwiches, salads, or vegetables in a hot dish. The single varieties have vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, or sweet potatoes," Rogier concludes.
For more information:
Hak Fresh
Info@hakfresh.nl
www.hak.nl/over-hak/hak-fresh