The umbrella company leader of the Thiry locations Johan Huys says that they supply all buyers, including all retail channels and speciality stores, from these three centrals, which are located in an almost vertical line through Belgium. "We made the conscious decision as a company not to serve catering. This is because it's a different type of customers, and we would be putting our own clients in hot water and we don't want to do that. We have a lot of customers who supply catering themselves."
Neatly spread throughout the country
Johan and Isabelle sold their business to the PrimaMundo group in 2008. "Thiry Gent is a fusion of the two companies Parmin and Huysfruit. Two companies were also recently fused in Bruges. NV Bouvry and Golswan NV, who will continue under the name Bouvry for the time being, work under the daily management of Isabelle De Rocker. With these three locations we are well spread out throughout the country, which is a huge advantage as fast a logistic costs are concerned, which are very high nowadays. In 2012 we made considerable investments to reduce those logistic costs. Half of our fleet was replaced by more environmentally friendly trucks. Our transport plans in the three sites are now completely dotted out by computers. We have to think of the environment. Nature is our future.
Neatly spread throughout the country
Johan and Isabelle sold their business to the PrimaMundo group in 2008. "Thiry Gent is a fusion of the two companies Parmin and Huysfruit. Two companies were also recently fused in Bruges. NV Bouvry and Golswan NV, who will continue under the name Bouvry for the time being, work under the daily management of Isabelle De Rocker. With these three locations we are well spread out throughout the country, which is a huge advantage as fast a logistic costs are concerned, which are very high nowadays. In 2012 we made considerable investments to reduce those logistic costs. Half of our fleet was replaced by more environmentally friendly trucks. Our transport plans in the three sites are now completely dotted out by computers. We have to think of the environment. Nature is our future.
The most important thing to focus on at the moment is a streamlined communication and a uniform policy between all of the PrimaMundo companies. We want to provide our customers with an optimal service with our distribution platform. Our added value is to supply fresh products every day, and to keep our customers trust in this. We don't just try to be competitive with prices, but strive to mean just that little bit extra to our customers. In difficult times like this it's hard work, and it's a challenge to keep responding quickly as large company. We have to invest in the future and want to keep out 70 million Euro turnover. One of these investments is extending our E-commerce even further. We have been using this system since 2002, but this technology evolves so fast that it has become (almost) one of the most important forms of communication. This is one of the reasons that we were nominated the fastest growing company in East Flanders, and that we were awarded the Trends Gazellen 2013."
New brand of top fruit: StarClass
"There are a lot of advantages to working with a group. For instance, we have our own banana ripener and various own brands. These are brands such as Papillon, Kira, Orchidea and Cordero. "Many customers come to us for our brands, and know that they're good. The quality demand is higher and the products are packaged especially for us. Since the start of this year we have added the brand 'StarClass top' and 'Star Class Fruit' for top fruit. With this new brand we want to give our Belgian top and soft fruit a stylish air. Only top quality and special calibres are selected for Star Class, and this is how we play the market."
New brand of top fruit: StarClass
"There are a lot of advantages to working with a group. For instance, we have our own banana ripener and various own brands. These are brands such as Papillon, Kira, Orchidea and Cordero. "Many customers come to us for our brands, and know that they're good. The quality demand is higher and the products are packaged especially for us. Since the start of this year we have added the brand 'StarClass top' and 'Star Class Fruit' for top fruit. With this new brand we want to give our Belgian top and soft fruit a stylish air. Only top quality and special calibres are selected for Star Class, and this is how we play the market."
"It's not mandatory for us to buy all products within the group, but it does happen for the most part. Every company also has its own customers with specific or typical desires, and that's why products are also bought from the 'outside'. Who buys today and it unaware of what the retail and the consumer desires, will get into trouble. It's interesting and striking to see how big the differences are between the customers of the three locations. The basics are the same, and that's what we derive our strength from. For instance, in Bruges many buyers come and look on site, and here in Evergem more is ordered through webshop, fax or phone. In the location in Luik 100% of sales are done by phone."
"We're treated just like any other customer by our import companies, it keeps our companies alert. Our assortment is very extensive. In Evergem alone we have around 1,100 references. This also has to do with the amount of packaging that we offer."
Huys looks towards the future with mixed feeling. "I've never found it easy, but we're hoping for better times. We have been focussing on reorganizing our structure since 2010 and we have continued to invest in the future, which is vital. Despite difficult periods we have still managed to add a new location to the group. Every day is different and there are so many factors that could influence demand and supply, which keeps this sector endlessly fascinating."
For more information:
Johan Huys
Thiry Gent
Brugse Steenweg 7/40
Magazijn 25
9940 Evergem
Tel.: +32 (0)9 222 57 11
Fax: +32 (0)9 221 14 20
www.primamundo.com
"We're treated just like any other customer by our import companies, it keeps our companies alert. Our assortment is very extensive. In Evergem alone we have around 1,100 references. This also has to do with the amount of packaging that we offer."
Huys looks towards the future with mixed feeling. "I've never found it easy, but we're hoping for better times. We have been focussing on reorganizing our structure since 2010 and we have continued to invest in the future, which is vital. Despite difficult periods we have still managed to add a new location to the group. Every day is different and there are so many factors that could influence demand and supply, which keeps this sector endlessly fascinating."
For more information:
Johan Huys
Thiry Gent
Brugse Steenweg 7/40
Magazijn 25
9940 Evergem
Tel.: +32 (0)9 222 57 11
Fax: +32 (0)9 221 14 20
www.primamundo.com
