“In Spain, there were supply shortages for a long time, which became ever more evident as the Dutch season began,” Tom van der Meer, bell pepper product manager at Combilo, a wholesaler in the Netherlands, said recently. “Meanwhile, there’s once again a noticeably reasonable supply of Dutch bell peppers. Favorable local weather conditions helped accelerate production.”

© Combilo

“That obviously increased that product’s availability. It’s also clear that, in the market, customers are gradually switching from Spanish to Dutch products. That steady transition is being well received. The start of the season, combined with the rising supply, opens more space in the market, changing the supply/demand balance,” explains Tom.

Hefty fruit
“Bell peppers from the Netherlands are currently clearly distinctive, quality-wise. The product exceeds retailers’ and customers’ requirements regarding appearance, firmness, and shelf life. Dutch bell peppers are still quite heavy, which can be troublesome when flow-pack filling. The supply chain is handling this flexibly, though. Retailers, too, are showing flexibility in that regard and are actively trying to help find solutions.”

“The market is generally developing dynamically, with increasing supplies that are being well received by the retail sector. Still, the current situation calls for focus and flexibility within the supply chain. Actively responding together to product traits and packaging options makes us adaptable in a changing market,” Tom concludes.

For more information:
Combilo BV
Transportweg 23
2742 RH Waddinxveen
Tel: +31 (0)180 44 67 00
[email protected]
www.combilo.nl