The demand for Asian fruit and vegetables in Germany increases every year. The Dutch company East4Fresh has been supplying the German market with a range of Asian fruit and vegetables since July 2012.
Helien Verhagen, Managing Director of East4Fresh notices increase in demand in Germany: “We recorded annual growth rates of 20-25 percent since 2012. Of course we started small and our products will still be seen as a niche products for a few years. But our Asian segment keeps on growing and the availability of our main products in supermarkets increases too. Customers with a taste for Asian cuisine are very happy about that.”
“There is a clear trend in Asian fruit and vegetables,” explains Verhagen. “Favourites under the Asian vegetables are baby and Shanghai Bok Choy, Choy sum, Red Hing Choi, Baby Shanghai, Water spinach, red and green peppers, bitter melon, Chinese aubergine and Chinese long beans. And there is a high demand for Asian fruit such as Nam Dok Mai mango, rambutan, mangosteen or Dragonfruit.”
“Enthusiasm for Asian Cuisine”
Travelling and the love for experimenting with new recipes are a few of the reasons for the increased popularity of the exotic products among the Germans. “When German holiday makers return from the Far East, for instance Southeast Asia, they are enthusiastic about the flavours and the light and healthy Asian meals,” according to Verhagen. “They want to eat the food they enjoyed so much again! In an Asian restaurant or at least home.”
Test sales convinced
To be close to the German customers, distributor East4Fresh has an office in Munich. “This way we can be close to our German customers,” explains the manager, "In the beginning, the demand was somewhat hesitant, as we first had to convince the customers of our product quality. We convinced some of the partners of the attraction of Asian fruit and vegetables with test sales in their markets.”
The IFS Broker certified company supplies its customers, food wholesalers, supermarkets and delis almost daily. “Our produce arrives fresh from our farms in the Netherlands, China and Thailand. We therefore have virtually no storage facilities,” states Helien Verhagen. “Our customers are guaranteed fresh and top quality produce, tailored to their needs.”
Helien Verhagen
East4Fresh B.V.
Oosteinde 11V, 2991 LG Barendrecht
Phone: +31 1806 202 01
helien@east4fresh.nl
www.east4fresh.nl