The shortage of personnel is becoming increasingly noticeable in the catering industry. As a result, people are resorting all the more frequently to partially processed or even further refined fresh products. At the same time, there is a growing desire to get everything from a single source. In the coming years, the industry will inevitably develop into a market environment of pure full-range suppliers, claims Robert Eder, managing director of the company of the same name in Lower Bavaria.
View of the headquarters of Früchte Eder GmbH in Kirchham/Tutting Picture: Früchte Eder GmbH
Früchte Eder is located in the heart of Lower Bavaria and mainly supplies hotels, restaurants and large-scale consumers within a radius of approx. 100 km, as far as Deggendorf and Passau: Convenience goods is one of the most important development areas of the Bavarian company. "Since 2012, we have been increasingly focusing on Freshcut articles. Our product range extends from sliced and diced onions and carrots to sliced and mixed salads. We have also given these salad varieties some of the names of surrounding villages."
View into the production facility of the company / Picture: Früchte Eder GmbH
Staff shortage and full product range
Mr. Eder believes that the shortage of personnel in the gastronomy sector will become more and more noticeable over the next few years. "That is why we are trying to offer a tailor-made convenience range, especially for fruit and vegetables, so that the gastronomer can manage with a small number of staff. In addition to this lack of personnel, a second trend can be observed: We are operating in a market environment in which we have to offer everything in a few years. Until about 20 years ago, everyone bought their goods in different specialty stores, but now the complete range is available in a supermarket. I see a similar trend in the wholesale trade: Currently I am a fruit retailer who also offers convenience goods, but in 15 to 20 years I will gradually develop into a full-range supplier."
Part of the convenience range is processed by hand / Picture: Früchte Eder GmbH
The current convenience portfolio of the medium-sized company currently comprises 480 items, from potato and onion products to ready-to-serve salads. For a standard product such as carrots alone, there are already a large number of different cuts: "We offer carrot sticks and in addition to the usual orange carrot, there are also various other colours such as yellow, red and violet. So in the end we are already at about 25 individual articles, just for carrots."
Within the region, Früchte Eder LLC maintains close contacts with its producers. The main articles that are taken in in large quantities are obtained via direct imports from the respective growing region, while smaller articles are purchased in the Munich wholesale market hall. At the beginning of the month, for example, the first cucumbers from Dutch cultivation arrived in Lower Bavaria, says Managing Director Robert Eder (pictured here).
Planned doubling of capacity
The service provided by Früchte Eder includes various quality levels, and the product range is simply adapted to the respective clientele. "We supply nursing homes as well as premium restaurants. We are located only 6 km away from Europe's largest golf region in Bad Griesbach." In order to be able to meet the increasing needs of its gastronomy and wholesale customers in the future, the company is currently planning a large-scale new building. The current operating capacity at the existing location is about 10,000 m2, and if everything goes according to plan, another 10,000 m2 will be added in a few years, the retailer concludes.
For more information:
Früchte Eder GmbH
Jürgen Hennhöfer
Simbacher Str. 11C
94148 Kirchham/Tutting
Tel.: +49 8533 91890-13
Fax: +49 8533 91890-29
Mail : info@fruechte-eder.d