Wholesaler Nadir Sahin confirms that the wholesale market business in Karlsruhe in southern Germany has lost some of its vitality in recent weeks, as has been the case in many other German fresh food markets. "We are a full-range supplier and fortunately supply a wide range of customers - in addition to restaurateurs, for example, weekly market traders and retailers. Nevertheless, sales of fruit and vegetables have fallen by 60 percent in the last two weeks."
The situation has also changed for the individual products:
"We sold a lot of potatoes and onions last week because of people 
hoarding. We are now observing a stabilisation of sales in this area as well. In terms of price, the crisis is primarily affecting the typical gastronomy articles, i.e. cucumbers, peppers and mushrooms," says Mr Sahin.
Right: Nadir Sahin visiting the Freshplaza wholesale store in winter 2018.
Preventive measures characterise daily business
Special products such as Turkish medlars or unusual exotics are hardly in demand at the moment. "People just buy the essentials, anything else is hardly selling, the pick-up business here at the wholesale market is now very quiet," Sahin explains.
Alternative marketing forms are also out of the question for the fruit wholesaler. Sahin: "Some of my customers now also supply consumers directly. This is of little interest to us because our containers are simply too big. Otherwise we are doing what we can to overcome the crisis: We take the order, the customer disinfects himself and waits outside for his goods. We are still here and we still have a business."
For more information:
Sahin Fruchtimport GmbH
Nadir Sahin
Weinweg 43 (Großmarkt)
76137 Karlsruhe
Tel: 0721 961850
Fax: 0721 9618599
info@sahingmbh.de
www.sahingmbh.de