According to Manuel Donoso, manager of the company, the firm controls 60 hectares owned by several growers, but additionally, as of this year, it also has 13 hectares for its own production. "Therefore, with both our own areas and those belonging to growers, this campaign we have a surface of 70 to 75 hectares."
At the peak of the campaign in terms of workload the staff consists of 125 people. At the start of the campaign, each producer signs a partnership agreement for a commitment to fullfil customers' requirements within the framework of the Globalgap protocol (Eurepgap). Additionally, its handling process is very thorough and the visible part of the contents must be representative of the whole package.
But Brillante Hortícola's commitments go beyond those offered by growers and the one kept with consumers; it is also with the environment. In 50% of the greenhouses they own, Brillante Hortícola has implemented a new heating system using biomass as fuel. Pellets made out of forest and pruning residues, almond shells, olive stones, crushed pineapple, etc.; non-polluting products widely available in Andalusia.
Regarding sales, in the previous campaign (2011-2012) the final volume sold by the company was 7 million kilos of tomatoes. For the new season starting, "our expectations are good and we think that the figures will improve, reaching 8 million kilos," said Donoso, who explained that the end goal for the firm is to reach 10 million kilos. "If we do it this season, great, but otherwise I believe we will in the future."
Brillante Hortícola's main commercial goal, according to its manager, is to expand in the most important and consolidated Western European markets, such as Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, England, France and Italy, and seek a greater influence on the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, such as Russia, Czech Republic and Slovakia, among others.
For both company and product promotion, the firm will attend Fruit Attraction's international fair for the first time, an event held between 24 and 26 October at IFEMA, Madrid. "It is the first time that we will attend a fair like this. Our main goal is to consolidate our current contacts in a different setting, and of course, we also expect to find some new contacts."
Source: Elalmeria