"Despite the crises and challenges of recent years, we are on target and can be satisfied overall with 2022," says Jörg Moser, managing partner of biosanica Ltd, which specializes in organic dried apple products. "There was sufficient raw material available to us, while energy prices have again stabilized, at higher levels." The 2022/2023 season, which began Sept. 1, 2022, and ends Aug. 31, 2023, has also gone well so far. "The new season will then start again with the new European crop in September."
Katharina Gebhardt, Managing Director Jörg Moser, Daniel Stieger and Anna Schuster from biosanica at Biofach 2023.
Marginal price increase
Sufficient raw material could be sourced from Poland as well as Germany. "Despite isolated problems with scab, the quality was sufficient for us, especially since we usually use Class II apples for processing. Prices moved only slightly upward in 2022. However, classical reasons played a greater role, regardless of existing crises. Energy costs are gradually leveling off again. We can only record higher costs due to the increased minimum wage and logistics, but only to a small extent," says Moser.
"In times when the entire value chain is coming under severe pressure in terms of margins, contribution margins, etc., it would be advisable to try to communicate with each other along the chain. This can create synergies to break new ground," Moser hopes. The system could be optimized to not necessarily create new capacities, but to be able to use existing capacities efficiently. "The pressure from all sides is so great that you also have to think more about process optimization in locations like Germany and implement it accordingly," says Moser.
Demand has recovered, he added. "With the peak of the pandemic came the slump in sales. But demand has stabilized again in the last year. What we lack in the organic market, however, are the growth rates from 2010-2020, but we benefit from the increasing demand for organic association goods. Here, we have been the preferred and best-performing producer in Germany for years. However, the 'Origin Germany' product segment is heavily dependent on the respective programs in the food trade/discount."
For drying, he said, the company still mainly uses gas. "Electrical energy doesn't really work here. Hydrogen and other alternative fuels are theoretically conceivable for drying, but in practice this technology would have to be developed further. In the future, however, there will certainly be new processes, especially since they are actually necessary in terms of sustainability." To this end, Moser suggests that processing plants should move their factories close to production plants, if possible. "On the one hand, I have saved costs by doing this, and on the other hand, because of the short distance, I have also made a contribution in terms of climate protection."
He sees increasing competition from larger areas, especially Eastern Europe, as the main challenge for the industry. "China and South America are currently playing a lesser role. The pressure is felt more from Eastern European countries. What is developing positively is the trend toward association goods of German origin. The convergence agreement between the associations ensures that corresponding quantities can be made available for the food trade/discount and are also purchased by associations. Additionally, all parties involved try to implement prices in the process chain for association goods that German association goods need. The price for classic air drying, as we operate it, is definitely acceptable to all along the chain."
For more information:
Jörg Moser
biosanica GmbH
Pommerndreieck 3
18516 Süderholz
Tel. +49 (0) 38326 / 53 15 0
Fax: +49 (0) 38326 / 53 15 29
www.biosanica.de
info@biosanica.de