Bel'Export, originally specializing in top fruit, has decided to expand its product range to include the full Belgian/Dutch fresh fruit and vegetable assortment. "With Jef Tilkin's arrival, we gained customers he'd always supplied with these products. His expertise in vegetables complements our top fruit specialism, and we can consider offering a complete package," says Simon Wouters.
The Bel'Export team at the recent Fruit Logistica
The expansion is not entirely unexpected. "We've been asked for years to diversify our range. As a top fruit specialist, the focus quickly shifts to apples, pears, and some strawberries and cherries. However, our customers increasingly wanted to purchase the rest of the range from us. Jef's arrival triggered the next step, which we'd been planning for some time. It's a chance to link our existing top fruit clients to the extra vegetable sales that Jef brings, and the buyers he brought along can, in turn, rely on our top fruit expertise."
Bel'Export expects this to create a synergy that gives them new options for the future. "We were somewhat familiar with the vegetable world, but Jef knows it like the back of his hand. Just as we know the top fruit sector inside out," Simon explains. "Now we have a true specialist on board and can strengthen each other. He mainly supplies German and French wholesalers; we mostly focused on those countries' retail markets. This collaboration means we can tap into new markets and offer them the full range."
Simon, thus, expects a busy summer. "The top fruit season is in its final months, and we're still busy enough with that. But it's the perfect time to welcome Jef now that the Belgian/Dutch greenhouse vegetable season has well and truly started. Substantial volumes are arriving, and the large offer will hit the market within two weeks. The Spanish competition seems to be gradually disappearing, so we're looking forward to a good summer," he concludes.
For more information:
Simon Wouters
Bel'Export
2 Nerem Street
3840, Borgloon, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0) 12 44 05 51
Email: belexport@belexport.com
www.belexport.com