From special items such as mini zucchini, okra, and the like from their home country of Syria to seasonal fruit and selected herbs, since November last year, a new cash & carry market called Alamir Grosshandel GmbH has been located on Herzogstraße in Gelsenkirchen. The young company's customer base primarily consists of Arab shops throughout the Rhine-Ruhr Area, which mainly purchase their goods locally. "We have found a successful niche here, although we also want to expand our delivery service," said the management in an interview on-site.
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A look inside the cold store full of watermelons
There has been a particularly strong increase in demand for watermelons recently. "We offer our customers watermelons from Italy, Turkey, and Morocco, although supplies from the latter country are now coming to an end. To meet the high demand during the heatwave in weeks 26/27, the majority of our customers have pre-ordered goods accordingly." Prices are currently trending downwards again, warehouse manager Ehab continues.
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Spanish flat-leaf parsley (left) and watermelons (right) from Italy
Herbs are also a perennial favorite in Arabic cuisine, especially flat-leaf parsley and mint. "We offer both standard herbs and premium products from the Lucas quality brand, which are slightly more expensive. Last year, we also offered German produce, but this year we are focusing exclusively on cut herbs grown in Spain."
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Left: Syrian mini zucchini are sourced from a Dutch partner. Right: Warehouse manager Ehab shows Chilean quinces.
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Left: Dutch mini cucumbers. Right: The first Italian table grapes arrived in week 26.
Increased prices for cucumbers, limes, and mangoes
Recently, the price range for some items has tightened noticeably, he continues. "Cucumbers are currently very expensive and also difficult to obtain in some cases. The same applies to mangoes and limes. In the case of the latter, which we currently source mainly from Brazil, prices have sometimes doubled within a very short period of time." Quinces are also currently sourced from the Southern Hemisphere, namely Chile. "Quinces are a very popular item in Arabic cuisine and are therefore very well received here all year round. Overseas produce is currently trading at EUR 14/3kg carton, while Turkish produce, which is expected to arrive here at the end of August, is being marketed at a maximum of EUR 10/4.5kg carton."
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com
South African pears are offered at this time of year as an alternative to Santa Maria pears from Turkey.
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com
Alamir GmbH currently employs around eight people, all with Syrian roots. In the past, the Jatal brothers were already active at the Düsseldorf wholesale market (FreshPlaza reported).
For more information:
Mohamed Jatal
Alamir Grosshandel GmbH
Herzogstr. 61
45881 Gelsenkirchen
Tel: +49 176 638 23199
[email protected]
www.alamir-gmbh.de
