Regional vegetables or fruits, for local customers. This is the concept of 'Buur on Tour', the Swiss home delivery subscription for local food. But after just over two years, the conclusion is that demand is lacking.
So after just over two years, it is the end. "The end of 'Buur on Tour' in Olten-Zofingen" is the title of the e-mail to the customers of the delivery service. It was sent by Grob and Anderegg. Sarina Anderegg explains: "We are stopping because it simply did not pay off. The cost of putting together the vegetables was too great and the demand was too small." Depending on the order, each fresh-food box is filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables and is then delivered by Swiss Post. Once a week, on Friday, the delivery would arrive at the customer.
'Too much work for me alone'
With their service, they appeal to a clientele that lacks the time for a purchase in the farm shop or on the weekly market. But the concept of the delivery service has failed: "Demand has stagnated in recent months. In addition to this, our supply area is much too large for such a small demand," explains Roman Grob, who grows vegetables and fruit in Winznau and Lostorf. That is why the regional "Buur on Tour" team decided to pull the plug. "For me, by myself, it would be too much work anyway," says Grob.
The big disappointment that the "Buur on Tour" concept does not work out as it had hoped already occurred last year. Grob: "We started in 2017, with three people. But one partner left after just one year." Together with the Anderegg family, they decided to move on. "However, we expected a significantly higher demand," says Grob. Especially after the promising start.
And now the project finally comes to an end. Friday, the 5th of July, will be the last delivery day, the Andereggs and Grob explain in the e-mail to customers. The products of the two farms can still be bought at the weekly markets in Olten and in the two farm shops.
And for Roman Grob, the concept of online ordering is not over yet: "Basically, there are many people who want to buy regional products online."