Henk Verwoert (Head Buyer of Agricultural Products at Hanos) and Leonard Kampschöer (Commercial Director at Fruitmasters)
Season opening
The new berry season was opened by Leonard Kampschöer (commercial director of Fruitmasters) and Frans Kieftenbeld (Site Manager Hanos The Hague-Delft). "The season opening was organised by Hanos, the largest buyer of Prestige soft fruit at Fruitmasters. For Hanos, the priority is to back quality Dutch products. That is, partly, the reason why the season opening was held here."
Fruitmasters' renewed Prestige line
Leonard Kampschöer outlined what the new layout of Prestige would be: "Our main focus is to look at how the product is perceived. That is why we supply the product for caterers and the foodservice in bulk. We tend to attach great importance to products that we can see, taste and smell. The Prestige line features a new layout that accentuates the look of the product and strengthens the freshness guarantee."
Click here to see the photos
Culinary sensation
Top chef Marcel van der Kleijn inspired his colleagues with some surprising uses for soft fruit in the kitchen. "In my restaurant, I have a preference for domestic berries. I find them more pleasant to work with. I think it is fine to be a little chauvinistic in this area. There is also a wider range of options than you might think in terms of applications; you are not just limited to desserts, as they can be used even in savoury dishes, which I wholeheartedly recommend." To give an example of the latter, Marcel prepared a dish in which berries not only served as a garnish for duck foie gras, but also helped yield a quirky flavour contrast.
Enjoyable cooking with top chef Marcel van der Kleijn
That creativity was also the focus for Hanos' own chef Max Thywissen could not be denied, as demonstrated by the trio that he presented. He used sheep yogurt, balsamic vinegar and merengue, among other ingredients; a contrasting flavour combination with a surprisingly good result.
Trio of berry desserts prepared by Max Thywissen (Hanos culinary adviser)
Growers take the word
Jeroen Vos (Maatschap Vos) is a small fruit grower and member of Fruitmasters. Jeroen grows a number of crops, including raspberries, gooseberries and red currants. "With our partnership with Fruitmasters, the chain has become shorter, which helps protect the quality of the products. In the morning we can start picking and in the same day it is all marketed; the day after, the fruit has already been delivered. You cannot get any faster than that."
For more information:
Fruitmasters Geldermalsen
Deilseweg 7
4191 NX Geldermalsen, The Netherlands
E: info@fruitmasters.nl
W: www.fruitmasters.nl
T: +31 (0)345 578 800
F: +31 (0)345 578 428
Hanos
Kleveringweg 57 2616 LZ Delft, The Netherlands
E: receptie_delft@hanos.nl
W: www.hanos.nl
T: +31 (0)15 8000400