In the slipstream of mangoes and avocados, so-called smaller exotics are also becoming increasingly popular. "A product like pitahaya was a lot more exclusive until a few years ago, but has really become a new draw now. Instead of a few pallets a week, we now sell a few pallets a day. You now also see them on the shelf more and more often outside the weeks around Christmas. I expect it to one day become a regular item on the retail shelf alongside mangoes and avocados," says Lorenza Ciccaroni.
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With December approaching, another busy period has begun at the Dutch import office of the French Kinobé group, although she notes that "the Christmas rush is no longer as intense as it used to be."
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Since 1 October, the N&K team has added a colleague from Ecuador with strong grower connections, expanding supply from the country. "Red pitahayas we sell all year round. There can still be a period of shortage in May, but we never run out and can always replenish supply from Peru," Lorenza says. "Besides the red and yellow pitahayas, we also supply more and more smaller exotics, such as granadillas, maracuja, and tomarillos from Ecuador, although this is still on pre-order."
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Exotics feel less and less exotic
"In addition, the market for mangoes and avocados also continues to grow. Every year, we think we have reached the maximum, but we still manage to achieve further growth every year. This fits in with the trend of all exotics becoming more and more accessible to everyone. Exotics feel less and less exotic to many people. Where other imports used to be important, these have increasingly given way to the exotic items."
From South Africa, N&K stocks baby pineapples as standard and is also the biggest player in the South African lychee market. "Over a month ago, we started flying in South African lychees, and we expect to get air freight in until week 52," she says.
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"We are therefore now having large volumes of lychees flown in, which also allows us to control costs. Last year, there were fewer lychees available, and the price was extremely high, but this year we have a good supply, and if we don't have to deal with extreme rainfall, production will also remain good. But the weather can still throw a spanner in the works," Lorenza adds.
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Lychees are also more popular than ever, according to the importer. "Nowadays, everyone knows what a lychee is. That was a different story 20 years ago. We used to do hardly any air freight, but now air freight is well. In two weeks, lychees from other origins will also be available. For instance, they are already offered from Reunion and Mauritius, but these are mainly lychees on the branch, which are sought after in the French market. Also from Mozambique and Madagascar are the first lychees on the market, but we really focus on the South African lychees, which we sell loose in a 2 kg box. These lychees, with their XXL size and sweet taste, are very much in demand."
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Trials of pitahaya by sea freight
"But our real volumes only come in once Madagascar is off the market, also because supermarkets prefer sea freight. At the same time, many supermarkets also always offer haricot verts and mangetout, which are also brought in by air. We do try to respond to customer wishes by transporting more by boat. Since Friday, for instance, we have had the first trials of pitahaya by boat on the way. I am very positive about that; we did the same from Vietnam earlier in the run-up to the holidays. At the same time, it is not possible for all products. For example, a granadilla does not survive the boat trip."
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Another key product group for N&K is coconuts. "Since this summer, supply has been limited. The coconuts were very popular in the local market and with neighbouring countries, leaving few exports. Actually, since the summer, availability has been difficult. However, we do expect supply to improve in a few weeks, so that we will have enough product available before Christmas."
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Moving to new premises, R&M
"This does fit into a broader trend that the biggest challenge for us is not so much in sales, but getting enough product in. Trade often goes faster than we can keep up. These may be luxury problems, but they are problems too," Lorenza laughs. "We are therefore delighted that we will be moving to R&M Forwarding's new premises in mid-December, where we will get as much trade in as possible and also have office space. With a modern infrastructure and a new IT system, we hope to gain further efficiency gains this way, and this will bring a lot of positivity!"
For more information:
Lorenza Ciccaroni
N&K b.v.
Tel: +31 (0) 78 3032 440
[email protected]
