“Deliberately not growing too quickly”

The season for exporter Elite Foods is gradually starting. “There is some movement now. We currently still sell mostly winter vegetables, in addition to cucumbers and greenhouse lettuce. Tomatoes are still a bit expensive for our buyers in Germany. They are now buying Moroccan or Spanish tomatoes. The Moroccan ones are half the price of Belgian ones,” says owner Hassan Akarca.

More tomatoes

Hassan indicates that when production increases in Belgium, prices will decrease. “The illuminated cultivation has finished, and cultivators will now continue with non-illuminated cultivation. I expect a higher production in about ten days. Sales will also increase then. We are busy especially in summer. Now, we send about one or two lorries to Germany every other day, in summer it will be four or five.”

Brothers Hassan and Zafer Akarca with a box of own-brand tomatoes.

Although the company is mostly known for its Elite tomatoes, the range increases each year. “Until two years ago, we were increasing very quickly, and there was no structure. We then decided to approach it more professionally, or it would become too much for us. We are now growing more slowly, but more deliberately. Growing too fast cannot be controlled after a while, you have to be able to keep up.” Elite Foods supplies its products to Turkish and German companies. “In the 18 years in which we have been active, we have built a relationship based on trust with our customers.”

For more information:
Elite Groenten & Fruit BVBA
Mechelsesteenweg 120
2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)156 337 46
Fax: +32 (0)156 370 55
www.elitefoods.be
info@elitefoods.be