"Bananas remain bait in supermarkets"

Around this time of year it's always very quiet on the banana market, although the situation is better than last year. "It hasn't been bad so far," Jan Vanhuyse sums up. "Because of the colder weather, sales continued more stably than other years in this period, but from next week on it will probably be a bit less again. Then the school holidays in Belgium are starting again and sales decrease, but that's normal."

Bait
He says the bananas in Belgian supermarkets are less extremely priced than in the Netherlands. "There aren't promotions like Jumbo's 99 cents year-round. But there's still a price war here as well, not just in the Netherlands. Sometimes a retailer starts a banana promotion, and another one joins in. Bananas remain bait in the supermarkets. It hasn't always been like that, but now there's a promotion four times a year at least."

Stable prices

Jan notes that currently there is a smaller supply of green bananas. "At least there's no oversupply. That's why those prices also remain reasonably stable and haven't hit rock bottom. For the time of year, that's rather unique. It's possible that there will be a decline again, but so far that hasn't been the case."

Vanhuyse sells the brands Fyffes, Bonita and Chiquita. Wholesaler Vanhuyse from Roeselare is part of Group A. De Witte and is known for its bananas. Vanhuyse has its own banana ripening facility, where around 6,500 18 kg boxes are ripened each week. The company has a diverse customer base. "We supply to other wholesalers, market traders, retail and also some to supermarkets and hospitality." At the end of December last year, Vanhuyse acquired wholesaler Bailly of the wholesale market in Evergem. This means the product range has been expanded with specialties and exotics.

For more information:

Jan Vanhuyse
Vanhuyse Louis NV
Diksmuidsesteenweg 325
8800 Roeselare
Tel: +32 51 240 199
Fax: +32 51 210 865
www.vanhuyselouis.be