The marketing of summer fruits such as strawberries and watermelons continues to run at full speed. "Watermelons are currently being offered to us from Italy, Spain, and Turkey, and are very well received. I would describe the price differences between the individual countries of origin as minimal at the moment," reports Kubilay Firat, catering wholesaler and managing director of BEREN Gastroservice, based at the Duisburg wholesale market.
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com
Beren Gastroservice has been based at the Duisburg wholesale market for 20 years now. Kubilay Firat (left) has been running the company in its second generation since 2018.
Strawberries: Quality unfortunately affected by heatwave
The strawberry season so far has been marked by ups and downs, according to the catering supplier, which offers both German and Dutch strawberries. "At one point, prices had fallen to EUR 2 per punnet but have recently risen again to EUR 4 per punnet. The weather is obviously a big factor here. The quality of the produce changed, especially during the recent heatwave in weeks 26/27, and we can't rule out another heatwave soon."
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com
A look inside the wholesale box from Beren Gastroservice
Price sensitivity shapes the restaurant industry
For over two decades, the family-owned company has primarily focused on supplying regional restaurants and hotels. This sales segment in particular has suffered greatly over the past five years, confirms Firat. "Corona has, of course, fundamentally changed a lot, and unfortunately, there are still restaurants that have to file for bankruptcy. However, we have been able to compensate for most of the customers we have lost through new openings. In general, we are observing that catering customers are becoming more price-sensitive, which in turn is reflected in their purchasing behavior. When it comes to leafy vegetables, for example, people are more likely to opt for a cheaper alternative instead of frisée."
Meanwhile, the local wholesale market has noticeably lost some of its vibrancy over the past decade, Firat continues. "It used to be full of customers picking up orders at night, but those days are over. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the situation will change for the better again in the coming years. We also see further growth potential for our company and are generally optimistic about the future."
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com
Dumara watermelons are currently available from various countries of origin.
For more information:
Kubilay Firat
BEREN Gastroservice
Duisburg Wholesale Market
Tel.: +49 (0) 203 93312501
Mobile: +49 (0)157 / 38808621
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/berengastroservice.duisburg/
