Wholesaler VHL, located in Tremelo, sells its products at Mabru, the wholesale market in Brussels. The brothers Eddy and Jef have both been active for years. Eddy: "We are specialised in a number of branches: asparagus, chicory, beans and iceberg lettuce. We're strong in these products and can supply volumes."
Growth
The Van Hoof brothers buy everything themselves. "We have various addresses, such as BelOrta auction, and also buy a lot in the Netherlands. Iceberg lettuce is a more recent addition, from around 10 years ago. It has grown hugely over the last few years. We supply chicory from Belgium or the Netherlands all year round. Asparagus and beans are only available in the Belgian and Dutch season and iceberg lettuce is available all year round from the Netherlands and Spain."
High price for iceberg lettuce
He indicates that iceberg lettuce is going well at the moment. "Iceberg lettuce is going for between six and seven Euro per box of eight at the moment. The price is this high because so much area abroad has been damaged and a lot from Holland is being sent to Italy and Spain. At the start of the season the iceberg lettuce was 1.20 per box and this has gone up over the course of the summer. I expect the high price to remain until Spain starts in a month."
Almost 100 years
VHL has existed for almost 100 years and was founded by Eddy and Jef's grandfather. "Trade is our business. We do the purchasing and want to keep customers satisfied with good quality. When everything goes well and there's a bit extra left over, it's a fun thing to do. It is hard work: a job for day and night. As a trader you have to stay awake both literally and figuratively, even when looking at competitors."
For more information:
Eddy Van Hoof
VHL BVBA
Kruisstraat 60
3120 Tremelo - Belgium
Tel: +32(0) 1 653 20 58
Fax: +32(0) 1 653 20 58
jef-van-hoof7@hotmail.com