"The current high price level is not necessarily related to inflation," pleads Daniel Riedlinger, co-managing director of the regionally operating Fruchthof Konstanz GmbH. "While it is obvious that inflation has primarily driven prices up, it does not necessarily have to. Because I also see other factors, such as the increasing bureaucracy in fruit and vegetable production, for one, as well as the rising production costs that many of the local farmers are confronted with."
The Constance-based fruit wholesaler supplies a mixed clientele consisting of retailers, restaurateurs and bulk consumers. After a tough 2022 financial year, the market now seems to be recovering to some extent, says Riedlinger. "The high prices and accompanying buying restraint were particularly hard on us last year, and this led, among other things, to regional sweet cherries being left behind. Although the first regional sweet cherries, which we have been offering for about a week, are offered at about the same price as last year, we have now already been able to distribute almost more than in the complete previous season."
The company's own delivery vehicles are used to supply restaurateurs in the Lake Constance district and the surrounding area, among others. According to Riedlinger, the mood in the gastronomy sector is somewhat subdued, which is reflected above all in the lower purchase quantity per customer.
Negative trend in regional fruit growing
Besides cherries, apples have always been an important flagship of regional fruit growing in the Lake Constance region. Riedlinger: "In the past season, many producers decided at harvest time to deliver more goods to cideries and the processing industry. At the moment, old plants are also being cleared in many places. In contrast to vegetable growing, fruit growers have the problem that they cannot react so quickly to market developments because of the long lead times. This is exacerbated by the bureaucracy already mentioned, such as the restrictions on plant protection products, which makes young farmers reluctant to take over their parents' farms. This is already making itself felt, especially on the smaller private farms with which we mainly work."
Freshcut still on the rise
Nevertheless, the experienced fruit trader also sees opportunities and growth potential. "Freshcut continues to gain in importance due to the lack of staff in the catering industry. I am also in favour of continuing this trend for many reasons. Firstly, we offer the local gastronomy an ultra-fresh product that can be used immediately in the kitchen and is comparable in quality to the self-cut product.The guests in the respective restaurant will therefore not notice that the host has resorted to ready-to-cook products. Secondly, the cost-intensive refrigeration logistics are made much more efficient because we no longer have to distribute tons of raw produce, a large proportion of which ends up as waste in the bin. Instead, the already processed goods are only delivered once and there is no unnecessary waste."
The assortment in terms of fresh cut has remained mostly the same over the past years. "We already have a wide selection, but that doesn't mean that there are no shifts and trends. In the case of fries, for example, there is more and more demand for rustic cut products with a diameter of ten instead of eight millimetres. In fruit salads, on the other hand, there is a tendency towards small and finely cut fruit.
In terms of quantity, the classics such as carrots and kohlrabi are still far ahead. What distinguishes us in the fresh cut segment is that the products are produced and delivered individually for each customer. This will remain decisive in the coming years," concludes Riedlinger.
Further information:
Daniel Riedlinger
Fruchthof Konstanz GmbH
Horchstraße 8
78467 Konstanz
Fon: +49 75 31 / 98 14 - 0
Fax: +49 75 31 / 98 14 - 99
[email protected]
www.fruchthof-konstanz.de
