For Italians abroad who do not want to give up the culinary traditions of our Belpaese, here comes an online grocery shopping service in the main capitals of Europe. Fruit and vegetables made in Italy included, if you live in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.
The service is offered by Vico Food Box and was born precisely with the aim to fill the homes of Italians abroad with Italian products.
Gennaro Viscardi, co-founder of Vico Food Box together with Vittorio Colonna and Antonio Guarrera, says that it is a business born by chance, but dictated by specific needs.
"The initial idea was to sell frozen pies to foreign businesses, since we have been in the agri-food business for some time. A few years ago, I moved to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and found a large Italian community. The famous package from home sent by the mother came almost at fixed intervals, so much so that other friends, also rooted in the Netherlands, began to wonder if a single expedition for everyone was possible".
"Once we got to use a full pallet, and then we thought it could really become a business. We spent a year on the project and the website. An opportunity with a refrigerated logistics operator allowed us to get to Amsterdam fresh products, including fruits and vegetables".
"Our goal is to give Italians in Europe the opportunity to feel closer to home - goes on Gennaro - and, to ship fresh Italian products from Italy to Amsterdam, we use a refrigerated logistic system that ensures their quality and integrity".
New refrigerated cargo-bikes and FoodLogica pickup trucks, used to transport fresh products in Amsterdam.
"Within 36 hours, shipments from Italy arrive in the homes of our compatriots living in Amsterdam, with refrigerated electric cargo-bikes. From 1 January 2020, these cargo bikes will not only arrive in the Dutch capital but also in Utrecht , Rotterdam and The Hague. Our goal is to be able soon to reach all the other capitals of Europe with fresh products".
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"Fresh products was the segment that immediately experienced a boom. For example, in a week we sold 28 kg of friarielli, a typical Neapolitan product, in Amsterdam alone. Fresh vegetables are offered already clean, in trays made of recyclable material, at a price of around 6 euros/kg, and there is great demand. Just as there is a high demand for other fruit and vegetable products (see the offer of the refrigerated counter here)."
The Vico Food Box warehouse is located in Naples, next to the Naples Agro-Food Center (CAAN). "We therefore have everything not at zero kilometer, but zero meter!" concludes Gennaro.
For more information: vicofoodbox.com