Wholesaler Bouvry from Brugge has gone through good growth in recent years. The company mainly supplies to smaller traders and market traders, but the market share in supermarkets has increased. "Our assortment is becoming more aimed at retail," says Irving De Vuyst, who is responsible for commercial operations.
"A range for supermarkets is far more specific and we're playing into that. In the future we will continue to focus both on our current customers as well as potential new retailer buyers. We still see a lot of potential there. Market traders are a different audience, they often sell loose products in bins. Supermarket customers often prefer packaging like flowpack. This is why we will invest in a new packaging machine after the summer." During the takeover of Goldswan in 2012, they consciously opted to no longer serve catering customers, as their own customers also supply to catering.
Summer fruit
Bouvry's assortment is wide. "We are particularly strong in seasonal products. We have a lot of set growers and suppliers at home and abroad who supply directly, so that we can guarantee constant freshness and quality. At the moment we offer fresh strawberries and cherries, straight from the grower. We buy from different places and select products with the best taste and calibres." Bouvry is offering various summer fruits at the moment, among which stone fruit and melons are popular among consumers. "The Orchidea grapes are also doing well. We have them in our assortment every year. They are currently of the VIttoria variety and Italia will arrive in a month."
StarClass
The buyers regularly go to the wholesale market in France. Here Bouvry supplies its products to traders, so that they don't have to go there with an empty truck. "We mainly supply StarClass products there. They are transported from France to Corsica." The own brand StarClass was introduced over two years ago. "We carry raspberries, strawberries, cherries and top fruit under it. There is a good demand for these products. StarClass really stands out in the assortment and only the nicest and tastiest products are marketed under this brand."
Bouvry has been partially in the group PrimaMundo since 2010. The day to day running of Bouvry in Brugge is in the hands of Christoph Bouvry and Isabelle de Rocker. She collaborates closely with her husband Johan Huys, the coordinating director of Thiry Gent, Alva and Bouvry. Since last year customers have also been able to order online through the new web shop. "The oversight is far more transparent. The customers can see all the products in one go as well as the prices. A lot of things that are now possible couldn't be done with an order list," concludes Irving.
for more information:
Bouvry NV
Isabelle de Rocker
Jacob van Arteveldestraat 3
8000 Brugge - Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)50 45 9060
Fax: +32 (0)50 31 8909
www.primamundo.com