Normally, at this time of year, in the important winter sports areas of Germany, King Winter rules. But this year's lack of snow is now making itself felt, which is why some ski slopes are currently closing early. However, not in the Allgäu, where there is currently enough snow for skiing. "Despite the bad and sometimes stormy weather, our winter sales have so far been even better than last year, when we had rather too much snow and there was avalanche danger," says Florian Pichl of Häusler Frischeservice LLC, based in the Allgäu.
A delivery vehicle in the wintry Allgäu / Picture: Obst Häusler GmbH
The specialist retailer mainly supplies regional restaurateurs, bulk consumers and the hotel industry and has already seen some product trends during the winter sports campaign: "We now sell a lot of vegetables from southern Europe, but also Spanish and Moroccan citrus fruits. In addition, we are currently seeing an increased demand for watermelons and pineapples, although both overseas fruits are difficult to obtain due to the ship delays. We get our pineapple mainly from Ghana, but we also carry goods from Costa Rica and Panama," says Pichl.
Ski slope in Allgäu / Picture: Obst Häusler GmbH
Increased demand for pineapple and watermelon
In recent weeks, there have been noticeable shortages of both Brazilian watermelons and pineapples, and subsequent price increases. "Due to the storms, the ships could hardly enter the ports: Pineapple prices almost doubled because there were hardly any goods available on the market. A similar situation was felt with bananas," says Pichl.
Exotic product selection of the Häusler company / Picture: Obst Häusler GmbH
In the meantime, the clientele of the traditional Allgäu company consists of up to 80 percent of bulk consumers and restaurateurs. "Even in the periods when the weather doesn't allow skiing or hiking, we have enough work all year round by supplying company restaurants, old people's homes and hospitals as well as being a member of CF Gastro. In terms of product range, we supply a superior selection of products to the catering trade: For example, we supply cresses such as Sakura Mix and Basil Cress all year round, even during the cold season. In addition, we also offer more and more special cultures of Bejo, such as yellow and Purple Haze carrots, as you could see the last few days at our stand at the CF Gastro in Stuttgart. In addition to imported goods, we offer more and more regional specialities such as Micro Greens from Munich Micros.
Barbara Thuy-Pichl and her son Florian Pichl / Picture: Obst Häusler GmbH
Weather extremes increasingly noticeable
All in all, the fresh produce supplier does not believe that the winter seasons are gradually becoming shorter; instead, the extreme weather conditions are becoming increasingly noticeable, says Pichl. "I don't think there is necessarily less snow. Last year there was an unbelievable amount of snow, this year there is significantly less because it always started to thaw or rain immediately after the snowfall. In higher mountain areas, the winter sports season is carried through with fantastic slope conditions until the middle/end of March/beginning of April".
For more information:
Obst Häusler GmbH
Florian Pichler
Blaichacher Straße 29
87509 Immenstadt
Tel.: (0 83 23) 96 76 - 0
Fax: (0 83 23) 79 52
Email: bestellung@obst-haeusler.de
Web: www.obst-haeusler.de