TRADE AND MARKET I NG Focus on ‘the variety as a brand’ at Fruit Logistica Nomination for microwave cup wave, where the potatoes are cooked in 6 minutes. Add the sauce and you are ready. The cups are already available in French, English and German supermarkets but still have to conquer the rest of Europe, is Marketing The French growers’ group Parmentine with its latest invention, the Parmentine Cup, was one of the nominees for the innovation award. This is a microwave cup filled with uncooked potatoes in the 28 to 32 sizes, with a choice of three different sauces that are hidden in the lid. Preparation couldn’t be simpler. The cup is placed straight from the refrigerator into the microMeijer focuses on Jazzy After a gap of six years, Meijer was present again at Fruit Logistica with its own stand. And with a decor that was fully focused on the Jazzy variety. Why this potato? Commercial Director Johan van der Stee: ‘We have a great deal of confidence in this variety because it fits in so well with the wishes of the consumer, who wants a wellbalanced meal and also wants it fast. This potato is the perfect answer. It has a smooth skin so that you can boil or fry it without having to peel it. And it’s all done fairly quickly; it’s on the table within 10 to 12 minutes. In short, wash, boil, enjoy.’ To convince our visitors, a chef prepares delicious snacks made from Jazzy potatoes on the spot. And they are very popular with the public. ‘At a trade show like Fruit Logistica, it’s all about ideas’, Van der Stee explains his decision to only present one variety. Manager Thierry Lamblin’s intention. The group uses different potato varieties for the cups, but the variety isn’t really relevant says Lamblin. The 403 Parmentine growers mainly grow potatoes for the top segment. Together they cultivate 3,835 hectares, spread throughout France. ‘Egypt back on its feet’ The fact that the sales of seed to Egypt didn’t go very well last year is not surprising, says Hossam el Kady. He is Commercial Director of the Agriland trading company, which is the biggest potato exporter of Egypt, after trade competitor Daltex. In reaction to the dramatically-bad marketing season of 2015, the Egyptians decreased their acreages enormously this winter. El Kady thinks that over 25 percent less acreage has been planted. The incidental potato growers have packed it in, but there are also established growers that have closed their doors because in Egypt the production costs are structurally too high. Anyway, for the new crop, the situation is completely different. The first new potatoes, which have been harvested since the end of January, have been sold at excellent prices so far. Agriland sells a total of 6,000 ha of potatoes. Most are table potatoes, but they also sell Lady Rosetta and Hermes for the processing industry. 22 Potato World 2016 • number 3 Pagina 21
Pagina 23Voor nieuwsbrieven, online uitgaven en tijdschriften zie het Online Touch CMS systeem. Met de mogelijkheid voor een webshop in uw catalogi.
Potatoworld 2016/3 Lees publicatie 41Home