Over the past decade, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables have increasingly been sourced from outside Europe, primarily from North Africa. However, there are closer alternatives to non-European vegetable imports, such as in the Balkan region, emphasizes Beluli Durim, managing director of BFG International GmbH, a company founded in 2024. The committed entrepreneur has set himself the goal of building bridges between producers in countries such as Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Kosovo and the Swiss sales market.
The entrepreneur has Albanian roots himself and has been working in the Swiss fruit and vegetable industry for over ten years. He is therefore very familiar with both markets and their requirements. "Switzerland is known for its high-quality standards when it comes to fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, this also makes it difficult for 'new' sourcing countries such as Albania to gain access to the market, especially in the food retail sector." However, Coop CEO Philipp Wyss explicitly pointed out Albania's potential as a possible sourcing country of the future for fruit and vegetables last year (FreshPlaza reported).
'Fresh. Fair. Diverse. Together for sustainability' is the motto of the young company.
Sustainable logistics and high market potential
Due to high water consumption and unpredictable weather in Spain, leading food retail chains—not only in Switzerland but also in neighboring countries—are increasingly seeking alternatives, says Durim Beluli. "More and more products are being imported from Morocco, but they often do not meet the high standards of Swiss retailers. Then there is the logistics factor: North African products are mainly transshipped in southern Spain and distributed to Switzerland by land transport. We, on the other hand, have our own location in the central Albanian city of Berat, which means we can pack, commission, and transport the goods immediately after delivery."
These shorter supply chains without unnecessary intermediary traders also lead to more attractive pricing dynamics. "In addition, we offer the respective customer added value by transporting the goods to Ancona by sea freight wherever possible. Only from there are the goods then transported further by truck. This applies not only to products of Albanian origin, but also to deliveries from Greece and Turkey." BFG is also already in contact with SwissClimate. "We are convinced that we can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by shipping from Durres to Ancona, thereby making an important contribution to sustainability."
Greek watermelons. BFG International GmbH meets all standards in terms of certification and residue monitoring and already successfully serves catering and wholesale customers. The company can also meet customer-specific requirements in terms of sorting and packaging.
Beluli continues that there is enormous potential in Switzerland for fresh products from the Balkans. "While other communities dominate in other European countries, there is a strong and proud target group here with roots in Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, and other Balkan countries. Around 800,000 to 1,000,000 people – almost a tenth of the Swiss population – want familiar flavors and fresh vegetables from their second home. I am also convinced that the Swiss will enjoy them just as much. Anyone who puts these flavors on the shelves will not only win customers – they will win hearts."
Many items, such as nectarines and pointed peppers, can be sourced flexibly from several countries, including Turkey and Albania, ensuring a reliable supply at all times.
Wide range of products and increasing cultivation capacities
The young company focuses on importing and distributing high-quality fruit and vegetables, for which demand is growing rapidly. "Together with my business partner Ejup Ahmeti, who is also part of BFG International, we focus specifically on production phases when Spain and Italy are also active on the market," explains co-founder Beluli. "Our goal is year-round availability with fresh, attractive products from a single source. Albania offers ideal climatic conditions for this, especially for citrus fruits. Cultivation is growing steadily, as is the potential. For peppers, we rely on proven varieties such as Dolma and Kapia, which are also grown in Turkey and North Macedonia."
"Thanks to our close partnership with established producers throughout the Balkan region, we can meet demand reliably and continuously. This applies not only to fruit and vegetables, but also to fruit. Strawberries are harvested regularly in Albania from December to April, enabling a seasonal supply throughout the winter. The soil is extremely nutrient-rich and offers excellent, resilient quality. In addition, Albania and North Macedonia offer high-quality table grapes, which are increasingly in demand on the market."
He also points to the rapid development of Albanian agriculture. The Albanian government has set itself the goal of increasing the export value to one billion euros, with agriculture playing a key role. "In this context, the area under cultivation is being continuously expanded, and the structures are being increasingly professionalized and digitized. In addition, there is an increased use of beneficial insects to combat pests. There is still great potential for expansion, especially in the southern, relatively flat part of the country. We also benefit from the availability of groundwater, which gives us a significant advantage over many southern European countries and puts us in a good position for the future. However, what we still lack is securing sales through food retailers," Beluli concludes.
For more information:
Beluli Durim
BFG International GmbH
Sandgruebstrasse 5
8193 Eglisau
Phone: +41 43 558 27 03
Mobile: +41 76 583 27 54
[email protected]
www.bh-fg.ch