Tomatoes have come into the spotlight at REO Veiling in Belgium. This is because, for the first time last year, tomatoes had the highest turnover. This increase is largely due to the expansion of growers in the region.
“This summer a new 10-hectare greenhouse will be taken into use right across from REO Veiling. The intention is that a second 10-hectare block will be added soon. These plans are definite; development is not standing still," says Dominiek Keersebilck, REO Veiling's Commerical Director.
“We are making great efforts to make Roeselare, Belgium, the benchmark for tomatoes and other greenhouse vegetables."
French market
There has been a substantial increase in tomato supplies at REO Veiling. This is not only as a result of expansion in Roeselare and its surrounding areas. The auction house is also developing further in France.
“This season, we moved further into France; as far as Normandy. We have a farmer there. He has been producing French TOV and beefsteak tomatoes since April. These are marketed via REO Veiling”, says Dominiek.
“Sales are going quite well. We have determined that the French are not nearly self-sufficient when it comes to tomatoes. We were already active in the French market. The French want French products. So, we filled the gap."
Rising supply figures
“The expansion in France and Belgium has ensured a substantial increase in supply figures. We had sold almost a million kg of loose tomatoes by the end of June. This amount is nearly 24% more than last year," Keerseblick continues.
"We have also seen an increase in TOV. By the end of June, we had sold 8 million kg of these. This is about 2.4 million kg more than last year. However, we are not completely satisfied when it comes to pricing."
"Many products arrived at the same time. The whole of Europe had to deal with this kind of oversupply," says Dominiek. REO Veiling will continue to focus on tomatoes. This focus will occur in all segments - from specialties to the Coeur de Boeuf range, from beefsteak tomatoes to TOV.
"Our Production Director, Rik Decadt, has more leeway. He will keep himself actively busy with the development and implementation of new varieties."
Sales and payment certainty and brand policy
The number of greenhouse growers in increasing in the Roeselare region. This expansion is thanks to development. Despite this, the Commercial Director is not concerned about losing farmers who might choose to sell their products themselves.
“Last season, we held a strategic exercise. There, one young cucumber grower told us that his company had become too big for him to be able to work without the auction house. This farmer was glad he did not have to organize his own sales," Dominiek continues.
"At REO Veiling, his product always gets sold. That is the advantage we have at REO Veiling. We can help companies with sales and payment certainty and brand policy."
“Certainly keeping DNA as full soil auctioneers"
“In the future, we want to actively approach our growers in the preliminary phase. We also want to focus more on the development of new varieties. This is in addition to the developments in Belgium and France," says Keersebilck.
"We will, however, of course not forget about our other products such as full soil vegetables. We will certainly keep our DNA as full soil auctioneers. Leeks are, with regards to supply, still our largest product."
"We want to focus on REO Veiling's other products too. This is despite the development of the greenhouse vegetable range," concludes Dominiek.
For more information:
Dominiek Keersebilck
REO Veiling
101 Oostnieuwkerksesteenweg
8800 Roeselare, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 51 231 211
info@reo.be
www.reo-veiling.be