"The need for convenience-feeding will keep increasing"

The company DV Fresh was founded in 1998 by Dirk Verkinderen who has been active for almost 15 years on the Belgian market. "We have grown from a regional fruit cutting business supplying customers primarily in west and east Flanders, to a national supplier of fresh cut vegetables," says managing director Dirk Verkinderen. "In the beginning, customers were mainly supplied from the wholesalers in Roeselare, Heule and Brussels. Over the years the customer base was built and expanded to catering companies, supermarkets and food manufacturers."

DV Fresh also partly exports to neighbouring countries Holland, France and Luxembourg. "We give support on three important points: On the one hand all the supermarkets in Belgium that have our products directly or indirectly in their range. On the other hand the big catering companies and fruit and vegetable wholesalers and thirdly companies that prepare meals and use more fresh cut vegetables. Every aspect of the undertaking needs a special touch to it. These were developed by DV Fresh.

Peak and calmer periods almost excluded

"The main products we handle are typical stew vegetables like leeks, carrots, cabbages, onions and peppers. This also has to do with the region where we are located. Pittem is close to Ardooie and Roeselare, where still lots of fresh vegetables can be grown for both fresh market and frozen food sector. "Dirk indicates that the range of salads such as arugula, baby leaf, iceberg the last few years has increased. "To continue to grow, we have invested in a brand new ultra modern salad line. This will be operational in early June."

The business man states that they as a company don't really have peak periods. "This is also because we carry a wide range and have a diverse clientèle." But of course they do have seasons. "In the winter we have the typical winter vegetables, such as stew vegetables and soup vegetables. In the spring the focus is more on the salads, followed by the mussel vegetables in the summer. Then they start back on the winter program. As the seasons flow together perfectly we exclude peak and calmer periods."

Investments in new cutting and storage techniques

Dirk thinks the demand for convenience food will increase further in the coming years. "The present cooking culture, fuelled by the many TV programs, will ensure that new developments arise. Possibly, these might be perfectly filled by companies such as DV Fresh. The techniques for cutting, washing, drying and packaging of fresh produce are not standing still and are constantly improving. Important for a healthy company is the tracking of new techniques and new cutting and storage techniques, we have also invested heavily in recent years. Currently the construction of a new production hall is under way. DV Fresh has in recent years been able to buy all the neighbouring businesses in the industrial zone and is now working on doubling the current production area. So that at the end of August there will be a total surface of +/- 6000 square meters. In addition, the company still has about 18,000 square meters for the future. Thus at the end of August the new production hall will be fully operational and the new ultra modern salad line in operation."

Verkinderen is convinced that processed fresh produce in the future will continue at least at the same level as at present. "Seasonal items will disappear strong and preservation techniques will improve. This allows us to compete year round at competitive prices and offer fresh-cut vegetables."

For more information:
Dirk Verkinderen
DV Fresh
Vannestenstraat 3
8740 Pittem - België
Tel: +32 51 46 41 68
Fax: +32 51 46 41 69
www.dvfresh.be
[email protected]