Fruit wholesaler from Düsseldorf ends his business

“The wholesale trade used to be easier,” states the manager of the company Wilhelm Marleaux, “These days fewer customers visit the fresh food markets. And it is increasingly difficult to find new talent in the business.” Currently the business has only six employees. “Our employees have been informed about the closure and they have found new jobs or are still looking for one,” explains Büttgen.

The reason for the closure is complex according to Büttgen: “As difficult as it is for me to quit this, it is the result of a series of events. In the first place the customer base of the company changed over the course of the years. The increased influence of the discounters and large supermarket chains has played a role too. And new policies such as the minimum wage and its administration of the working hours create circumstances that no longer make our job profitable.”

“The long opening hours of the market and the lower number of visitors cause an increased amount of idle time, and it is barely possible to run efficiently,” explains the wholesaler. “The job has to be more efficient, if the market is open from 00.00 to 23.00 hours there has to be work for the entire time. And it cannot happen that the market is empty when the customers arrive at 08.00. The produce has to be available until closing time.” According to Willi Büttgen this situation has to change.

The industry is changing. “Wholesale’s traders have adjusted to the current times too. The new customer base and the new social medias are a challenge for the industry,” says Büttgen, “And I am regrettably to old for the new technology. The wholesales market will continue to exist but in more focused form.”

Despite the problems of the last few years Willi Büttgen looks back on a beautiful time at the market. “I experienced many beautiful things at the market and got to know many great people,” he says looking back, “You have to know when it is time to stop, and that time is now. I’ll retire and look back at a great time with many beautiful memories.”