The price level for chicory has been fairly stable in recent weeks, according to Sjan van Gorsel of Reijnpack from Sint-Philipsland, the Netherlands. “The price for ‘bare product’ fluctuates between €0.80 and €1.30. These prices are needed, because the roots now processed have been in storage for a year, and are therefore expensive. There’s also more loss the longer the product’s in cold stores, and production is gradually decreasing.”
Fragile
Chicory is grown in large parts of Northern Europe. Production countries are the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Poland. Reijnpack distinguishes itself on the market by supplying packed chicory under their own brand MasterClass. “Chicory is a fragile product. We can pack the harvest directly from the trays, which minimises handling. This benefits quality and shelf life,” Sjan says. “We supply our chicory to various exporters who serve the European market. The primary sales area is Italy. A relatively small part of our chicory remains in the Netherlands. We try to be distinctive on the market with quality and supply guarantee. And that isn’t always easy when you’re part of a cooperative. We’re also distinctive because of our large range of packaging: punnets, flowpacks, and loose in boxes.”
Radicchio
“We’ve been growing radicchio for about a year. That is and will remain a niche product,” Sjan says. “Growing radicchio is more difficult than chicory, and the volume needed is more difficult to plan because demand is fickle. Demand has to be estimated three weeks in advance, because it takes so long for radicchio to ripen.” An advantage of radicchio is that it has a good shelf life, even more so than chicory, especially when packaged. To be distinctive on the radicchio market, Reijnpack has chosen to pack the product. “Because of that, we have a unique product on the market, and we’re not in the way of our colleagues who do radicchio either,” Sjan concludes. For more information:
Reijnpack BV
Kwekerijweg 8
4675 PZ Sint-Philipsland
Tel: +31 (0)167 573 148
Fax: +31 (0)167 572 299
info@reijnpack.nl
www.reijnpack.nl