Wilko Fruit started importing Spanish nectarines, peaches and paraguayos two weeks ago under the brands Gaudias and El Ciruelo. "We started two weeks earlier due to the warm weather in February and March," says Wilko van der Zwaard. He is positive about the quality of the fruit. "The sweetness is better than in other years."
"We are also expecting the first apricots next week and the first cherries at the end of next week," says Wilko. Cherries have been an important activity for the Van der Zwaard family since 1934. Wilko's grandfather, Jan-Pieter van der Zwaard, started the activities, his father Ap continued it and over the years Wilko has also worked his way up to a real cherry specialist with supplies from all over the world.
"Specialism is becoming more and more important. For us, stone fruit is such a specialism. In this way, we have built up a good position in Dutch retail in recent years. About 40% of our volume now goes to supermarkets. They want to be taken care of. We have a lot of product knowledge and show the supermarkets that they sell considerably more with the right varieties. "
"We are going to work with half pallets again this year, because of the logistical advantages. This offers good opportunities for the programs aimed at supermarkets and fruit and vegetable specialists. This year we will also start using cardboard punnets, for environmental reasons," Wilko, who is looking forward to the stone fruit season, concludes. "My goal is to share our product knowledge with our customers, be it supermarkets, market traders or greengrocers so they can sell more!"
Gaudias, fruits for pleasure
For more information:
Wilko van der Zwaard
Wilkofruit e.g.
Heilaar-Noordweg 14
4841 ZZ Prinsenbeek
Tel: +31 76 5244460
[email protected]
www.wilkofruit.com
