After two difficult Covid years, isi Ismaninger Feldgemüse Ltd was able to report normal annual sales again in 2022. "In both 2020 and 2021, we had to dispose of a great deal of produce - especially white cabbage, as the food service industry needed significantly fewer quantities due to restrictions. We were only able to place part of the surplus quantity within retail, as our merchandise did not meet retail standards on a one-to-one basis. At the moment, demand in our fixed sales channels, i.e. gastro wholesalers and processing companies, is back at the usual level and we have even been able to expand our volume with some regular customers," says Peter Soller, Managing Director of isi Ismaninger Feldgemüse Ltd.
Peter Soller mainly supplies convenience businesses in Bavaria and Austria.
The dedicated vegetable merchant can draw on about 160 to 170 hectares of vegetables from regional contract farming, most of which is produced by his brother Franz Paul Soller. "Despite the drought, yields at our growers were average. However, we sowed fewer large-cropped carrots overall last year because we didn't know if the volume decline in the food service industry would recover. Accordingly, we have to buy in thick, washed carrots. These are very scarce and expensive at the moment. We get them mainly from Holland. For next season, we want to increase our own share of larger carrots again so that we have to buy in less and thus reduce logistics and other additional costs."
Peeled celery, red and white cabbage
Increasing efficiency instead of expanding the product range
The core competence of isi Ismaninger Feldgemüse, founded in 1999, is vegetable processing and the supply of semi-finished vegetable products (peeled, cleaned, quartered, de-stemmed) to catering wholesalers, delicatessens and convenience manufacturers. The range of products has narrowed over the years.
"Currently, our main items are carrots, celery, white and red cabbage and onions. In addition to these, we offer leeks and cleaned radishes and, in the summer, chives. In the past, we also offered the latter item in the winter. We stopped doing that because it was difficult to find reliable suppliers abroad. The same applies to salads, where the price pressure was considerable, only radicchio is still offered on the margins. In the coming years, we will also be devoting ourselves primarily to increasing efficiency in production rather than expanding the product range," Soller continues.
Peeled onions, yellow and red
Fundamental changes in the restaurant industry
"With regard to Corona, I no longer see the risk of closures or similar measures." According to Soller, the aftermath of the pandemic is clearly been felt, still. "Many catering businesses are facing staff shortages, which is why measures such as more days off or shorter opening hours are being taken. Because of this, more use is also being made of pre-made convenience products. However, this trend has been apparent for carrots for some time: Over the years, demand for peeled carrots has risen rapidly, while washed carrots in 10-kg bags have declined. Compared to other European countries, the German convenience market is still lagging behind: I am therefore convinced that there will be growth as well, in the coming years."
For more information:
Peter Soller
isi Ismaninger Feldgemüse GmbH
Mayerbacherstr. 50
85737 Ismaning
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 1430431-0
info@isi-gemuese.de
www.isi-gemuese.de