For some time, demand for specialities has been growing on the mushroom market. “This trend is becoming increasingly important,” says Laura Peffer, sales and marketing manager of Laseta Mushrooms. “Besides, the local-for-local principle is also becoming an ever more important aspect. Locally grown products are preferred over national or imported products. But we also export our products to neighbouring countries such as Belgium, Germany and France. Focus for customers is shifting more and more to packaging materials. Ps6 punnets are sometimes replaced with PET, and demand for cardboard punnets is rising.”
In the holiday month of December, demand for mushrooms was once again considerable. Laura: “December was very busy in the positive sense of the word, just like all other months. We love this challenging but wonderful time. It’s still a puzzle, but by having a good management / schedule, we’re still capable of supplying all of our customers. January actually continues in much the same way.”
Laseta Mushrooms grows about 220,000 kilos of white and chestnuts mushrooms per week. “Most demand is still for white mushrooms, and that’s the majority of our product, about 70 to 75 per cent. But chestnut mushrooms are experienced as more flavourful by consumers. Consumer research showed that consumers clearly taste the difference between white and chestnut mushrooms. We think its nutty flavour will result in chestnut mushrooms becoming increasingly more popular.”
Baby or mini mushrooms are a small product for Laseta Mushrooms. “We’ve supplied these to the market for quite some time now. Sales prices are much higher than for regular sizes – small, medium and giant – because they’re difficult to pick. That doesn’t mean it’s not a fun product. This size can be considered a convenience product. Because of its small size, consumers can throw them in a pan without any additional labour. Besides, it looks nice. I recently used them in glasses of champagne, instead of strawberry or raspberry. Because of the bubbles, the mushroom floats, it sparkles right out of the glass!”
The market for mushrooms is very difficult. According to growers, price levels have been under pressure for years. “It is and will remain a competitive market, but we have seen demand increasing. Last year we made some changes in the field of our locations. We’re now more centralised, resulting in more efficiency. That isn’t just needed in the sector, it’s also friendlier to the environment. Last year, we closed one of our branches in Horst where we were operational in growing and packing. Those activities are now housed at locations closer to Ammerzoden.”
