One of the Flemish stall holders present during the Fruit Attractions was Bart's Potato Company. On the island of the Flemish Centre for Agrarian and Fishing Marketing (VLAM) the company was there together with ten other organisations to show those interested what Bart's Potato Company stands for. Jurgen Duthoo of the Belgian company is very positive about the Spanish fair in Madrid. Although he is at a European fair, he says that there are also opportunities for him outside of the continent.
Jurgen Duthoo of Bart's Potato Company during the Fruit Attraction.
"A lot of Southern and Eastern Europeans come to the fair in Madrid," says Jurgen Duthoo. "It's good to show your face here for your existing customers. You can also show potential new customers what you have in store. That is the advantage of Madrid compared to the Berlin fair. There is more time to network spontaneously during Fruit Attraction compared to Fruit Logistica."
Sales market
He says that the final destination of the potatoes from Bart's Potato Company depends on the supply and demand of the product. "Our sales market is different every years," says Jurgen. "One year it may be Eastern Europe, in others we export outside of Europe. At the moment we are in West Africa. It just depends where we can send our potatoes. That's where we ship them."
Potential
At the moment the Flemish company is working on the Middle East, where they want to export potatoes. "Normally it's too expensive, but because the potato prices are very competitive at the moment, it's possible," says the man behind Bart's Potato Company. "No containers have left yet but there are ongoing negotiations with the Middle East. A few containers are likely to go this way soon. Due to those low prices we can compete with countries such as India and Pakistan. This certainly offers us opportunities."
For more information:
Jurgen Duthoo
Bart's Potato Company
Westvleterenstraat 25 a
8640 Vleteren (Belgium)
T: +32 (0) 57 40 91 20
F: +32 (0) 57 40 91 21