From the fundamental structural change at the Munich wholesale market to packaging and product trends in fruit and vegetables, right up to the current negotiations on the new construction at the wholesale market site - over the past two decades, owner Jörg Sailer of service agency Klaus Burkert has experienced a lot first-hand. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the company, he is both looking back and ahead.
Klaus Burkert's company was founded in 2003. Jörg Sailer, who has been with the company since 2005, has been running the business for five years now. "In the early years, we acted as a pure purchasing agency, buying goods on behalf of retailers at the wholesale market. About 15 years ago, there was a fundamental structural change, as a result of which Metro and Edeka, among others, turned their backs on the wholesale market. This forced many suppliers, including our company, to realign their ranges and focus more on supplying owner-managed supermarkets and specialist wholesalers."
The following years were largely marked by restructuring, Sailer recalls. "During the times of upheaval, we too were afraid for our existence, as we simply lacked orders. With a lot of negotiating skills, commercial sense, and a bit of luck, we then struck out on new paths. For example, we were the first service agency to be IFS-certified, which gave us a head start over our competitors. We were also able to tap into the interesting, growing market of system gastronomy." The Corona pandemic then set the company back a long way. "But we turned necessity into a virtue and acquired new business. After the crisis, the 'old,' existing business returned to its normal level, so that we have grown overall."
Jörg Sailer of Fruchthandel Klaus Burkert.
Reusable crates on the rise
A spirit of innovation and investment has characterised the company's history to date, also in the area of packaging. Sailer: "I am a clear advocate of reusable crates and try to take this into account as much as possible in purchasing. Even with imported goods from all countries of origin, we now almost exclusively use EPS deposit crates instead of wooden crates, whether for watermelons in summer or lettuces in winter. I see many advantages over wood, not only in cleaning and disinfection but also in terms of savings potential. Firstly, because the now very expensive waste disposal is eliminated and secondly because less space is needed for the empty goods due to the deposit system."
At the product level, the experienced fruit buyer also sees some shifts. "Any products that can be replaced by convenience are usually on the decline, whether it's plums or asparagus. The latter was severely affected by the pandemic and the loss of the restaurant industry and has not recovered even after the crisis." However, this trend also paves the way for new product concepts, such as decrowned pineapples. "This item has become very well established in recent years. We receive the goods already processed in returnable crates and can offer the product almost all year round."
Sailer also observes recurring consumption trends among individual products. "Interestingly, Granny Smith continues to find favor with our customers, while we are noticing a negative trend in both procurement and marketing for Golden Delicious. Kaki, persimmons, and clementines are still on the rise. But it must also be said that overseas citrus is now on a par with Spanish produce. The same applies to melons in the off-season, whether from Panama, Costa Rica, or Brazil. I also note that goods from the Balkan countries are increasingly represented at the local wholesale market and have greatly improved in quality, which also applies to Turkey."
Modern storage and sales areas needed
Regardless of the everyday developments in daily trading, the negotiations on the new building at the wholesale market site on Schäftlarnstraße also shape events. As a board member of the Bavarian Fruit Trade Association, Sailer follows developments with great interest. "We definitely need a future-proof infrastructure and modern storage and sales areas that meet the requirements of the trade," he concludes.
For more information:
Jörg Sailer
Fruchthandel Burkert
Owner: Jörg Sailer e. K.
Wholesale Market Munich
Tel.: +49 (0)89-66562298
Mob.: +49 - 170 388 99 31
Email: info@fruchthandel-burkert.de
www.fruchthandel-burkert.de