Sales of Asian mushrooms used to fluctuate at times in the past, but they’re starting to becoming more and more stable. “In the past, I was sometimes afraid that sales of Asian mushrooms would take over part of the sales of white mushrooms, but the revenue of these products is increasing year over year, and not at the expense of the white mushrooms, which was a positive surprise,” says Harold Schuurmans of Westland Mushrooms.
“What’s nice is that sales of Asian mushrooms is increasing at retail, exporters and the restaurant business. The Asian mushrooms, particularly the Shiitake, Shimeji, Eryngii and Enoki, have really settled in the market. While an exporter used to take a box now and then, now he takes five, permanently included in the product range. On retail shelves, you’re seeing great diversity in mushrooms, and the mushrooms are seeing interest from a wide audience,” Harold concludes. “The summer period has started. That means we’re entering the wild mushroom season now, with plenty of chanterelles, black trumpet, Pied de Mouton, etcetera. We can usually keep sales of regular mushrooms steady by adjusting the prices a bit more favourably, which means our clients can offer our products in summer as well.”
Asian mushrooms
Westland Mushrooms is currently developing new products to expand the Asian mushroom range. “Good guidance toward the customer is vital here. It doesn’t stop with sales. We also do that with the dried mushrooms for instance, which suit the growing demand for healthy food exceptionally well. A number of supermarkets are selling very well with that, and we are happy to support them. We are pleased that in the new Albert Heijn pilot store in Eindhoven, mushrooms are given a prominent place in the fruit and veg department. We’re seeing consumption increase in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, but in Southern European countries like France, Italy and Spain, consumption is even higher. Economically, they may be going through a difficult time, but mushrooms are part of the daily diet there.”
Harold regrets that the mushroom sector is still often in the news with misconduct. “We were involved with the establishment of Fair Produce Netherlands early on, but we really expect the same from our Asian suppliers. We want our suppliers, anywhere in the world, to be able to build a decent living, and that goes much further than a mere label on your packaging. In the Dutch mushroom sector, so many growers have gone under already, that it could threaten supplies over time. I also still see companies in our sector that are purely competing on price, but you won’t make it with such a short-term vision. Of course the customer benefits from a good price, but they do need quality products and suppliers. The taste quality of our products has given a positive boost to these products.”
More information:
Westland Mushrooms
Harold Schuurmans