Versgalerij André in Kalmthout went through a real transformation last month. The shop offers a wide fresh assortment which includes, fruits and vegetables, meals, meat, charcuterie, cheese, pastries and bread. Many of these products are homemade. Versgalerij's customers were helped by the staff at first, but now they can serve themselves for a large part. In the past they also had to pay at every department, but this can now all be done at the checkout.
Versgalerij André has recently been completely renewed
Much more of an experience
"People can now calmly stroll through the shop and, especially at the fruit and vegetable department, pick what they want," says the owner, André Van den Buys. "It is much more of an experience. We used to think that we had to help customers as quickly as possible, but I realised that it was better if they could get some of their products themselves. The new 'self-take' concept is really taking hold, and sometimes even more is being purchased. Especially the salads and meals, which are made and packaged by us, are easier to take. We used to have a pick and mix, but due to the pre-packaged products the turnover has even increased. Convenience suits people."
"We offer even more pre-packaged products now"
André was looking for a new way to define himself for the new design. "I wanted more class than fruits and vegetables that are presented in supermarkets. They leave almost everything in the blue boxes and I didn't like it. I ended up at Surplus Systems, who offered black folding crates. It does the fruits and vegetables much more justice."
Left Corné Dielemans van Surplus Systems with the special trays and on the right owner Eigenaar André Van den Buys with the mini crate
André continues: "Black is the best colour for fruits and vegetables. The contrast is great and the product emit more quality. The only drawback is that it's more work. We have to take everything out of the blue crates to put it in the new ones. But this does have an advantage to it: the products undergo a quality check in the process. With the special inlay trays that Surplus also supplies, we can lay our the products even more neatly. This increases the presentation and everything stays fresher because we replenish it more often."
Surplus Systems
Surplus Systems develops, produces and supplies synthetic packaging materials and solutions. The company started in 2009 in Germany and now supplies the crates to various branches all over the world. The products are available in 10 different colours. The sales in the fruit and vegetable sector has grown steadily in the past years. "Mainly the independent entrepreneurs in this sector are interested," says Corné Dielemans of Surplus Systems. "It all started with the mini folding crate for Clementines in collaboration with the German retailers. Since then, the demand has only increased. The sleek design of the crates attracts the traders, as the product is less easily damaged. The holes in the pattern of the crates also ensure good ventilation." André adds, "This keep the products fresh for longer. That means more is bought, as people can see the products and don't have to look in at the bottom of the crate."
André has been an independent entrepreneur since 1985 and started off with a butchery. "In the years afterwards I had the idea of selling the entire fresh assortment. Our customers appreciate the new concept. They also love the good quality of our products."
The owner indicates that many of the products in the shop are home made. "Meat and charcuterie are the strong points, we've been specialised in them for years. We experiment a lot with salads and meals. When we first included fruits and vegetables in our business, it was a whole new world. We used to rent out the fruit and vegetable department to a greengrocers, but we later took it over. We have slowly grown into it and are very enthusiastic. I always say: It's not that difficult to get customers, but getting them to come back is a very different matter."
For more information:
Surplus Systems GmbH
Corné Dielemans
Fraunhofer Str. 8
53121 Bonn
Tel.: +49(0)228 42 28 54 52
Fax: +49(0)228 42 28 54 54
Mobile Corné: 06-531 661 58
Versgalerij André bvba
André Van Den Buys
tel: +32/03/666.53.68
fax: +32/03/666.53.68
