Floods and weather damage in large parts of Italy have certainly affected the Swiss market, an important outlet for the Italian export industry. "The extreme weather is known to have left deep scars, particularly in Emilia-Romagna, where kiwifruit and stone fruit, in particular, are grown. However, other regions such as Puglia and Sicily also had to contend with hail and heavy rain. Certain plants will certainly be under water for 25-30 days, but concrete crop losses and losses are difficult to quantify at present. The consequences are not yet very noticeable in the markets," says Aldo Alberto Venzi of Venzi & Paganini AG, which has offices in Samedan, Zurich and Milan.
The grape season, for example, is only just beginning. Venzi: "The first early varieties, such as Vittoria from Sicily, are already available, but the official starting signal will not be given until the end of June, when the first main varieties, such as Vittoria and Black Magic from Apulia, hit the market. Although Italian grapes have been more important in the past, they still represent about 7-8 percent of our total sales."
The sales stand at Zurich's Engrosmarkt.
According to Venzi, grape imports from Italy don't really take off until mid-July. Depending on the weather, the last late varieties can be exported into January. However, it also happens that the last batches are loaded before Christmas," the wholesaler explains. In recent years, he says, the Cotton Candy variety in particular, which was launched exactly 20 years ago this year and has a taste similar to cotton candy, has quickly established itself. "The marketing window for this variety is relatively short, running only from mid-July to mid-August."
Table grapes under protective cover.
Major distributors are increasingly buying directly at the source
In addition to its headquarters in Samedan, Venzi & Paganini AG has locations at the Milan and Zurich Engros markets. "The wholesale market business is extremely weather-dependent. If the weather is sunny outside, the weekly markets are more frequented and the market stockers in turn buy more goods at the wholesale market. Conversely, when the weather is bad, people drive less to the wholesale market, which has a corresponding effect on the liveliness and atmosphere on site. In general, we have noticed that the wholesale markets have lost a lot of their importance over the years," says Venzi.
Italian grape cultivation.
The main activity of the traditional company is direct supply to Swiss wholesalers. Venzi: "In the last 10-15 years, the major distributors have increasingly been buying directly from the producer and are no longer dependent on the trader and importer. Accordingly, nowadays we almost only act as a gap filler when goods are urgently needed. The leading chains Migros and Coop stand completely on their own feet. Lidl Switzerland buys through its headquarters in Germany, and the same applies to the leading restaurant wholesalers. Only Volg and Aldi Suisse still cooperate in purchasing with Swiss trading companies. In this respect, I see little future potential in this area."
The company's fruit plantation in the border region of Tirano
Production of pome fruit in Tirano
Venzi & Paganini AG's range of services is rounded off with its own cultivation of apples and pears in the border region of Tirano. "On about 14 hectares, we mainly produce pome fruit for early marketing, especially the varieties Pink Lady, Gala, Golden Delicious and Granny. Since in-house production has established itself as a great addition to our portfolio, we will continue to do so in the future."
Images: Venzi & Paganini Inc.
For more information:
Aldo Alberto Venzi
Venzi & Paganini AG
Standort Zürich
T: +41 44 447 45 32
F: +41 44 447 45 40
info@vepa.ch
www.venzi-paganini.ch/de