On Friday 27 September 2006, ten years ago, Kiem-X sold its first sprout. “This occurred when we launched them at the REO-Auction,” says Wim Bouden of Kiem-X. “We only had a few types in our assortment then. Yet we notice four kinds are always the most popular ones: leek, alfalfa, beetroot and asparagus pea.”
Bouden continues: “In those ten years, we have become a stable player on the market: we have worked out all of the teething problems. We moved into a new, modern building, we now offer a limited organic range in addition to our conventional sprouts, and by now we also supply to a number of supermarket chains and quite a number of fresh produce wholesalers. The reason we are successful is that we focus on quality, not quantity. Our Flandria quality is above average and our customers appreciate this. We have learned a lot in recent years.”
Celebrating Kiem-X’s 10-year anniversary
Not always easy
Kiem-X now cultivates about 1,500 sprouts per week. The expansion has not always been without a struggle. “Starting was very difficult, and five years ago we received a big blow because of the EHEC crisis. Sales halved very abruptly. We then thought we were finished, but we are glad we persevered. We had to.”
The beautiful cake
Interest in the Netherlands
Bouden indicates that Kiem-X would like to spread its wings and head for the Netherlands. “I know there is interest in our product in the Netherlands, we have had many contacts, but those often do not hold up due to distribution problems: customers sometimes expect just four hours between ordering and delivering 150 kilometres away. I call on interested potential customers from the south of the Netherlands, who buy at the REO-Auction, to contact us, because we also physically deliver to Bel’Orta in Sint-Katelijne-Waver. That is much closer.”
For more information:
Wim Bouden
Kiem-X
Peperhol 6
9850 Nevele - Belgium
M: +32 472-703954
F: +32 933-62325
wim.bouden@kiem-x.be
www.kiem-x.be