In Maasmechelen, just across the border in Belgium, Stefan Schiffer runs the wholesale business Schiffer Food Trading together with his brother Youri and their parents. Every day, they supply fresh fruit and vegetables to a diverse range of customers, including market traders, shops, and German wholesale markets. Reliability, quality, and speed are their top priorities. For many years, ZON's clock has played a crucial role in this. "The clock? For me, it's the way to make sure I bring in the right products every day," says Stefan. "You know the range is right and the quality is good. That gives peace of mind and continuity."
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From market stall to wholesaler
Stefan and Youri grew up surrounded by crates and market stalls. Their grandfather worked in the market, while their grandmother ran a pub. Their parents later took over the market trade and expanded it further. The two brothers learned the trade at an early age. "We started as market traders ourselves in Heerlen," says Stefan. "In the market, you learn everything: which products sell best, which customers are critical, and how to judge quality by taste. We sold a variety of fruits and vegetables and gained a lot of product knowledge. So we knew exactly which products worked well and also got to know our customers. Many came back to us every week."
Over the years, Schiffer Food Trading grew from a small family business into a serious player in the wholesale sector. For the past five years, Stefan and Youri have focused entirely on wholesale, leaving the market trade behind. "Market work was cosy and personal, you knew all your customers, but the business grew too fast. Wholesale is a different world: more competitive and businesslike, but with the right purchasing and service, you can really make a difference. The market taught us everything about quality and customer experience. We still carry that people's knowledge and understanding of what customers value into the wholesale business. Here, we can further professionalise and scale up, while continuing to use that knowledge of truly good products."
The clock as an important link
Stefan deliberately chose ZON as one of his main purchasing channels. "I first walked into ZON when I happened to be in the area, also because I knew ZON supplied Tasty Tom and L'Amuse, products we had long known from the market and that always sold well." Since then, Schiffer Food Trading has been a regular customer, buying 10 to 15 products daily, including leeks, aubergines, cucumbers, radishes, vine tomatoes, and various cabbages. "ZON's quality is reliable and the range of specific vegetables is really unique," he says.
He sees the advantages of the clock as transparency, speed and a clear overview of products and prices. "Through the clock, I know I can get the best produce at a fair price every day. You really have to see it as a sport: making the right moves when buying so that you can also sell well. That's the fun part." Still, he is critical where necessary: "The range is small compared to other auctions. Sometimes I wish there were more Class II products, more fruit, or faster loading. But fair is fair: the products available are always good."
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A cooperation for the future
He experiences his contact with ZON as personal and pleasant. "You can always spar about assortment or planning. The service and flexibility are also top-notch. If something is wrong with a delivery, it is solved immediately," he says. "That makes the cooperation smooth and reliable, and that trust is worth its weight in gold."
Stefan also sees the clock as an essential part of his purchasing strategy for the future. "The quality, reliable supply and continuity are essential for us. We know what we are buying and that it is available seasonally on a continuous basis. For us, the clock remains a crucial tool, especially for specific products that you don't find everywhere." Asked to sum up the partnership in one sentence, Stefan says: "It is a combination of security, quality and a personal touch. That makes ZON and the clock indispensable for us."
For more information:
ZON
Venrayseweg 102
5928 RH Venlo
Tel: +31 77 323 9999
[email protected]
www.royalzon.com
Schiffer Food Trading
Scheepstraat 13/15,
3630 Maasmechelen, Belgium
Mob: +31 6 54356219
[email protected]
www.schifferfoodtrading.com/
