“It's very hot in France, and the melon is a product that’s consumed precisely when there’s significant heat. Surprisingly, consumers have not increased their purchases the way we saw in other years,” says Emmanuel Lahouze, commercial director of Soldive.
"We started the season with insufficient amounts. Heavy rains in May and June disrupted the timing of planting, due to which we lacked melons until July 20th. Our French melons arrived on the market with a 15 days delay. Limited quantities created a tense market, with consumer prices above the averages of previous years."
"From July 20, all the actors have come into production. We found a normal situation for the production level: no more, no less. In order to support production quantities, we had to boost sales. However, despite aggressive tariffs, we didn’t encounter the expected level of consumption. The end of the season is still quite disrupted."
Superior quality
The sales figures have nothing to do with the quality of the fruits. "This year, we have melons with a higher sugar level, because it was very hot in July and August, compared to other years. The fruits are 1 kilo on average; they’re of medium size, and they’re typically the fruit best suited for consumption."
A happy marriage
Soldive was bought by the company Vergers du Sud just two years ago. "For Soldive it was important to have a strong partner. We are very satisfied with this renewal. We saw the potential of the company, and the mastery of its know-how during this season. We are a new team, and almost all newcomers to the company. After this first successful season, we are really looking forward to having a go at the next 2019 season, starting in November 2018 with the Senegalese team."
The takeover of Soldive by Vergers du Sud allowed the new company to double its capacity of quantity distribution. The main products of the company are apples, pears, kiwis, and melons.
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