“With our certified exotics we are getting more and more demand from Dutch parties”
Tholen – In September 2020, Exotic Roots saw the light with the aim of filling the demand in the market for exotic fruit and vegetables. Almost three years later, owner Tim Struckman looks back on the start with satisfaction. “We are going further and further in depth with our range.”
“In the early years, we mainly focused on the import of okra from Honduras and beans from Kenya, supplemented with mangoes from Brazil and Mexico. We have now expanded the range with arrivals from Colombia, Thailand and South Africa, among others, with all the necessary certificates “says Tim.
Total Assortment
“For example, granadilla, soursop, baby mango and mangosteen are the largest products that we import from Colombia. From Thailand we receive a lot of baby corn, dragon fruit and peeled durian and jackfruit, and from South Africa we have weekly arrivals of baby vegetables in small packaging. This way we are increasingly creating a total range for our customers.”
“Initially, our sales were mainly aimed at wholesalers throughout Europe, but we are now also receiving more and more questions from Dutch parties who are looking for certified exotics. For example, they are increasingly seeing us on LinkedIn. Especially for Dutch customers the GlobalGAP certification is a requirement and we can meet that with our global suppliers.”
About 90% of the exotics at Exotic Roots arrive via air freight. “At the moment we only ship yams from Ghana by boat, but in April we also expect to receive our first sea container from Costa Rica with certified products such as cassava, eddoes and chayote. Fortunately, the air freight rates are a bit friendlier than in recent years and also the dollar-euro exchange rate is becoming more favorable for us again. The challenges lie mainly in the strikes at airports, for example, which cause unexpected delays, but unfortunately we have no influence on that.”
Quality check
The importer has an office in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, but all products arrive at ABC Logistics in Poeldijk. “All products that come in receive a thorough quality check, with which we have really made a professionalization move. We can also focus here on making mixed pallets with which we are a ‘one stop shop’ for all our customers,” says Tim.
The development that the importer is going through does the company no harm. “Our turnover has more than doubled compared to December and we expect another significant increase in the coming quarter,” says Tim. “The advantage is that as a young company we are extremely flexible and that we can easily switch in the constantly changing market.”
For more information:
Tim Struckman / Jonathan de Quartel
Exotic Roots
Steenbakkerij 74
2913 LJ Nieuwerkerk ad IJssel
Phone: +31 (0)180 234 111
Tim@exoticroots.nl
Jonathan@exoticroots.nl
www.exoticroots.nl
Publication date:
Author: Izak Heijboer
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