Since last week, demand for greenhouse vegetables has really started to pick up again at Flemish Elite Foods. The company, which specializes in Elite tomatoes, has seen a boost in sales with the start of Ramadan. "The sunshine and the start of Ramadan have created strong demand. People gather after sunset to eat and always tend to buy just a bit more," says Tuncer Akarca, business manager of Elite Foods.
It's a promising start to the new greenhouse vegetable season. "As the fresh produce industry continues to evolve, we at Elite Foods are proud to enter the new season with stronger partnerships, an expanded team, and a renewed commitment to sustainability and efficiency. After very successful participation in Fruit Logistica, we are more motivated than ever to create added value in the fresh produce market," he continued. "It was a fantastic fair, where we signed contracts with premium producers to ensure top-quality delivery. We also initiated negotiations with logistics companies to improve efficiency across Europe."
The company offers a full range of fruit and vegetables from the Netherlands and Belgium, with tomatoes being the main product. "After bananas, tomatoes are the most consumed fresh produce item, so if you excel in tomatoes, you can really stand out in the market. Three of every five trolleys that leave our premises are filled with tomatoes and two with other products, such as cucumbers and aubergines," Tuncer explains. "Alongside greenhouse tomatoes, we are now also working extensively with cucumbers, which are always early in the season. We started this in mid-February. In the coming weeks, the rest of the range will follow. I estimate we're currently at about 30 per cent of our peak volume, and this will increase weekly. We expect to reach our peak season in terms of volumes by the beginning of April."
As for quality, he is satisfied. "Winter is always a bit more challenging. During that time, tomatoes come from Spain, Turkey, or Morocco, and you quickly lose a week of shelf life due to transport. Now everything is coming in fresh again from Belgium and the Netherlands, so the quality immediately improves. Even during less favorable periods, working with local produce allows you to maintain full control. That makes the work especially rewarding." Elite Foods' main market is Germany, in particular. "Nevertheless, we're seeing our market share in surrounding countries steadily grow, and we now supply almost every European country."
Looking to the future, the entrepreneur is confident. "We have a larger and stronger team to meet growing demand. For example, we have doubled our sales team and expanded our workforce to streamline operations. This ensures faster order processing and improved customer service. In addition, as part of our green commitment, we have converted our company vehicles to electric cars, reducing our carbon footprint. We continue to explore sustainable practices to minimize waste and work with eco-conscious partners. With new collaborations, a larger team, and an expanded product range, Elite Foods is poised for an impactful season."
Foodex Japan
In addition, the company's sister company, Elite Fresh Trade, is exhibiting at Foodex Japan this week. "We are proud to participate in this international food and beverage exhibition in Asia, taking place at Tokyo Big Sight. Our colleagues Kazuki Yamamoto and Glenn Demeyer will be on-site at Stand E1-A12-18, welcoming customers and partners from across Asia and beyond, and showcasing a premium range of quality fresh produce."
For more information:
Elite Foods
Kempenarestraat 64
2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)15633746
info@elitefoods.be
www.elitefoods.be