Who will win?
“We will win, if that’s the question,” stated Jérémie Tessier from Helfer France, an importer and distributor located in Rungis. The final will be played between Wales and France in his opinion. “If it would be Portugal, it wouldn’t be very fair,” he mentioned.
Kai Fuchs of Gartenbauzentrale Main-Donau
Kai Fuchs, deputy managing director of the Gartenbauzentrale Main-Donau a vegetable cultivation association in Germany, is sure Germany will win Euro 2016! "The semi-finals against France next Thursday (7th July) will end in a narrow 2-1 victory for Germany. Of course, the final will be with Wales and Germany will win with 1-0!” They even decorated the sides of the trucks are with German flags and the rear-view mirrors are decorated with banners.
Portuguese José Fradeira from Vitacress, a fully integrated company from seeds to bags of salads, is a bit more careful: "I hope the final will be Portugal and probably against Germany. I'm not so sure who will win. Both Germany and France are very strong. We are already happy that we have made it so far!"
However for débutante team Wales, Geraint Owen of TATWS Trading is convinced: "Final will be Wales vs France, with Wales winning of course. We are going to go all the way this time!"
Sales increase
Where José is careful in calling Portugal the winner, he's more sure about his specially developed salad kit. "We never feel or notice anything in sales during these events in our sector. There is never an initiative." But this time he decided to do it differently.
"Portuguese consumers are very passionate about football, especially when the national team is playing. People go to the supermarket to buy beer, snacks and nice things for during the night." Vitacress developed a healthy snack for during the game. "We made a bigger salad bowl, especially for this consumption moment. It is easy and quick!"
"With this new product during the event, we surprised our customers and consumers."
The football is having a positive effect in Wales too, "People are buying a bit more, especially if the weather is good and they are having a BBQ which increases salad sales," according to Geraint Owen.
Jérémie Tessier from Helfer France
Surprisingly in France and Germany there is no influence in sales.“Perhaps for limes, as people are drinking more, but for the rest of our fruit assortment, we haven’t seen a tremendous increase,” said Jérémie.
Hangovers
There is not only effect on sales in some cases also on employees. “I didn’t feel perfect on Monday,” Jeremie said in all honesty, about the day after France sent Iceland home.
In Germany only the voices have suffered. "Anyway one thing is certain, Germany will win! Other colleagues, in the fruit and vegetable sectors in Portugal, Wales and France have no chance," states Kai Fuchs convinced. "Let's go!"
Tatws Trading getting loaded this morning
As a market trader Geraint is watching the matches at home as he has to be up early to get to the market in the morning. The late nights watching football matches are not a problem, "We are used to that. I did fall a sleep the other night during a match but I would never fall a sleep when Wales are playing," he said.
"Wales is a very good place to live at the moment, always is, but now it is a much happier place."