For the second consecutive winter, Spanish product will be auctioned off at ZON. Manager of Auction Sales, Els van Herpen, expects a significant growth in volume this year, according to ZON Magazine. Until 2015, ZON auctioned mainly Dutch product and limited quantities from Germany and Belgium. Last autumn, ZON launched a pilot to sell Spanish product at auction. The reason for this was the result of a survey in 2015 among auctioneers, about how the day trading market could be better arranged. One of the conclusions from this survey was that some of the buyers had a need to be able to buy a number of products, at auction, outside of the Dutch season.
That result led to talks between ZON and a number of Spanish cooperatives via existing contacts. Els van Herpen: “That was actually the launch of the pilot, for that resulted in product becoming available straight from the Spanish cultivators. Every cooperative is strong in part of the desired assortment, which means we have already managed to auction a nice range of products in total last year.”
Because both suppliers and auction customers were pleased with the pilot, ZON will auction off Spanish product again from November during the coming winter season. “But we are going to do a few things differently from last year,” Els says. “We are going to critically look at the overlap of Dutch and Spanish product at the start of the season. Last year, some products had some overlap for about three or four weeks. For some products, that was too long. This year, we strive to limit that overlap. We are looking at every product to achieve that.”
To work more efficiently, ZON will also further automate the administrative process surrounding the sales of Spanish products. Els: “This year, we want to auction off fresh product of good quality again. To guarantee this as much as possible, our Head of Inspection, Piet Crienen, will go to Spain again this winter season. Should we then still unexpectedly receive product that does not meet the specifications for class 1, that product will be, where possible, re-sorted here at ZON. From the point of view of efficiency, product that has been re-sorted will be auctioned with a clear mention of class 2 during the coming season.”
Outdoor
The goal is to auction more Spanish volume at ZON during the coming season. Els: “Our ambition is to significantly increase the volume from Spain. We think this is possible. But supply and demand should, of course, remain balanced. Last year, everyone was still a bit reserved, but that is no longer the case, because of last year’s positive experiences. We therefore are considering auctioning, besides greenhouse products, a number of Spanish outdoor products, which we have a shortage of during the winter season here at ZON. I am already looking forward to what the winter season will bring.” Source: ZON Magazine
