At the local wholesale market in Hannover, the Lotze company has been able to assert itself over the past four decades as a point of contact for the entire range of fruit, vegetables and exotics from Germany and abroad. In a detailed interview on site, managing director Antares Binder discusses today's challenges and market developments.
Currently, the trading company is fully engaged in the Italian grape season. Every day, tons of dark and light table grapes with different brix values and calibers are handled. Binder: "The light and seedless grape Cotton Candy variety is enjoying rapidly increasing demand. It is a variety with a high Brix content; it tastes like cotton candy. In the dark grape segment, the somewhat elongated Sweet Sapphire performs very well. In the red grapes, Summer Royal is well received by our customers. Meanwhile, supplies of European peaches and nectarines, mostly from Italy, France and Spain, are now starting to run out."
Lotze has been based at the local wholesale market in Hannover for many years.
From the region, for the region
In addition to marketing imported goods, the company offers a wide range of regional fruit and vegetables. In particular, the procurement as well as the distribution of potatoes and vegetables from the surrounding region are part of Lotze's service, Binder explains.
"Compared to the neighboring regions of Bremen and Hamburg, a particularly large amount of vegetables are grown in the Hanover area, which is why we can draw from the full range in this respect. The quantities of regional fruit, on the other hand, are somewhat lower by comparison, although we also try to use regional goods as much as possible in this area."
Managing Director Antares Binder
While traditional pick-up customers tend to continue to decline, deliveries, on the other hand, is rapidly gaining in importance, Binder continues. "We have a modern fleet of 10 delivery vehicles, with which are servicing up to 200 customers in all areas daily, from restaurateurs and community catering to farm stores and selected Rewe stores. In the latter segment, too, a particular emphasis is placed on the regionality the goods, even if the products are likely to be somewhat more expensive by comparison."
German tomatoes from regional producer Hermanns. The Lotze company supplies regional Rewe stores, among others, with local produce.
Safeguarding locations and succession
Despite the current challenges, such as inflation and cost increases, Binder is confident about the future, not least because of the crisis-proof location at the local wholesale market.
"Großmarkt Hannover Gmbh has established itself as a reliable service provider. Extensive renovations of the premises have been carried out with sense and understanding in recent years. The permanent full capacity utilization is also a sign that new companies also want to settle at the site."
Binder adds that Lotze is also concerned about young talent within the company. "We train junior staff ourselves and are proactive in our search for new apprentices. Großmarkt Hannover also supports these initiatives, with radio advertising, which we particularly appreciate."
For more information:
Antares Binder
Lotze Fruchtimport GmbH & Co. KG
Am Tönniesberg 16-18 (Großmarkt)
30453 Hannover
Tel: +49 511 469136
E-Mail: info@lotze-frucht.de
www.lotze-frucht.de