"Due to HPP our juices can be stored for a month"

HPP-machine
He indicates that there is an increasing demand for juices and smoothies with a longer shelf life from the market. "This is why we decided to make a large, over 1 million Euro, investment in a HPP machine. We are the first in Belgium to do so."

After the bottles have been filled they are placed in the HPP machine cold and under high pressure. The pressure of the cold water ensures that they juices and smoothies can be stored for a month, 20 days longer than usual. "The customer receive a much long shelf life in exchange for a minimum rise in price for juice that doesn't lose its vitamin and colour. I expect it to be popular. It's a great technique which makes so much more possible for the catering, wholesalers, specialists and supermarkets." The downside is that this technique is very labour intensive: The bottles have to be placed in the cooker by hand from the collection belt.

Fruit salads in Germany
At the end of 2016 The Juicy Group took over the company Go Fresh in Geilenkirchen (Germany). "The full production of fruit salads - which used to take place here in Erpe-Mere - is now gradually being moved to Germany. We only want to make juice at the Belgian location and focus completely on fruit salads at Go Fresh. We also invested in a new building there. The volumes are increasing week after week."

He isn't yet applying HPP to the fruit salads. "We're still in a testing phase for this. We use different kinds of fruit in fruit mixes, and they all react differently to HPP." At the moment fruit in juice has a shelf life of around 10 days and fruit without a maximum of six days. We have to be on the ball with this."
 


Catering
Buyers of The Juicy Group products are mainly catering suppliers and hotel chains. "The retail may possibly be more interested in juices with a longer shelf life. We are certainly open to new collaborations." The company wants to position themselves even more strongly on the market with this.

Purchasing
Juicy Group gets its products from various suppliers. We make a selection of products that we believe are of good quality. This can be different for every fruit variety. The countries with the most excellent watermelon don't automatically have the best quality kiwis.

Belgium and Germany
At the moment The Juicy Group is mainly active on the Belgian market. "With the takeover in Germany this is a new market for us. We still see a lot of opportunities for growth in the future. As of 2011 we have grown by around 1 million Euro in turnover each year. Last year we turned over 8 million Euro with The Juicy Group. This year we expect to reach a turnover of 20 million with the two businesses."

Over the course of the years Yves met various people who were interested in taking over the company. I went for a good offer for a partnership, in which I remained co-owner. Stephan Junckers, the owner of the German company has also partially bought their way into both companies. We were both at the same stage with our organisations and we're a good match together. I'm confident that we will make the coming years a success!"

For more information:
Yves Devos
The Juicy Group
Tel: +32 53 60 67 01
Fax: +32 53 60 67 02
GSM : +32 475 83 66 31
Koningsdries 41
B9420 Erpe-Mere
[email protected]
www.juicygroup.be