Veiling Haspengouw merge packing companies

The total supply of fruit at Veiling Haspengouw was 8% less in 2013 than in 2012. The smaller harvest in September 2012 was the main cause. But also because of the good prices at the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, the cooler rooms were emptied earlier. In the central storage of Veiling Haspengouw there are more pears than last year (2013-2014), a bigger harvest than in 2010 and 2011, which were top years.
Where apples are concerned, the expectation was a decrease of 9%. The final result at Veiling Haspengouw was in fact an increase of 28 percent. Because of the very late flowering everybody was convinced that picking would start a lot later as well, but nobody took the extremely warm summer, which we experienced, into account up to and including the first week of September.

Replaced Board of Directors and new chairman in 2013
During the annual, very well attended, general meeting, the producers have chosen the new managers: Herman Vanmarsenille, Hugo Louwette, Luc Jacques, Raf Spiritus, Bert Vanweddingen and Jean-Marie Neven. The new chairman Luc Bels and the members of the previous team, together with management, will have to decide on the boundaries within which Veiling Haspengouw will have to move during the coming decades and develop strategies to guide our cooperative.

H-Apack
The story of H-Apack appeared in the press during the last few months. In short: because BayWa left H-Pack we at Veiling Haspengouw were confronted by two equal companies, who were separately producing a loss. By merging the activities of the one company with the other we hope to develop one successful sorting and packing company. The reason that the Germans left is to be found in the fact that BayWa chose a different business model and the fact that the Germans were confronted with excess capacity in their own market. Also we cannot get away from the fact that we as Belgians are too expensive on the international market, mostly because our wage expenditure is a worldwide handicap. It was a painful test, but necessary when looking at the future. As we have to think in advance we unanimously agreed to a social plan. This in the meantime is being executed.

New pear P2829
The developments for the new pear (P2829) are going according to plan. We are all convinced of the qualities: storage is first class, it has a smooth green peel, it is insensitive to grating damage and has a high yield. This pear is already a new trump card in our export policy. Because of the quasi mono culture of the Conference pear we are dependent too much on certain selling areas so good alternatives are more than welcome.

New Operational program
The Board of Directors also prepared a new Operational Program. They expect the agreement of the government shortly. As the only auction house Veiling Haspengouw has already provided more direct means for the growers in 2014. This means that there will be space again to invest in hail nets in the covering of cherries and plastic pallet boxes. Veiling Haspengouw wants to continue investing in research for new cultivations via PCFruit and EFC. We then think of cultivations such as plums and apricots, but also of nuts. Also introducing drift reducing covers and by having sensor operated sprinkler machines fit into our policies of more sustainability and attention for the water guideline..

Kanzi
Kanzi was available from 21 October again, one had to wait a little longer this year, but it was well worth it. Ideal sizes, beautifully uniformed red flush and a full refreshing taste, thanks to nature. In Haspengouw a total of 7 million kilo's was harvested. Worldwide this was 50 million kilo's, of which 80% in Europe. There is more demand than supply for this tempting apple. The combination of a good product, strong campaigns and enthusiastic clients and consumers have made a success of Kanzi. In order to continue to fill the demand, trees will be planted worldwide inn the next 3 to 5 years. In this way we will shortly be in a position to offer Kanzi without interruption to intended purchasers from New Year to New Year. .

Changing Auction Landscape
In the course of 2013 we were confronted with the announcement of the merger between Bel'Orta and Veiling Borgloon. This was a surprise because we are currently in contact with the two other auction houses in Limburg about a commercial platform in order to centralize the supply. We take note of this new situation and wonder what the result will be.
For additional information you may contact general director Renaat Kuipers or
financial-administrative director Filip Vanaken of Veiling Haspengouw.

Tel.: +32 11 670 611
e-mail renaat.kuipers@veilinghaspengouw.be