Autumn 2011
Well summer has reverted to type, and here in Hull at least the warm dry conditions have gone and wet, showery weather has become
the norm as usual. What is not usual, however, is the sight of England dominating the Test series against India, may it long continue. I will also gloss over the appalling riots and looting that has shocked us all, no doubt by the time you read this the investigations will have concluded.
I was interested to read the Fine Food Digest recently and agree with Bob Farrand and his contributors, on two of the points that he was making; firstly that wholesalers need to work as an open conduit (my words) between producer and retailer and that product knowledge is the key to successful marketing to the retailer and the consumer. I would like to think that we are positive on both fronts; our buyers certainly know our products and try very hard to pass on this information to the retailer. They also are only too pleased to allow retailer and producer to converse, indeed we welcome you talking to the real experts and trust our suppliers to do a good job in backing us up and even introducing new lines to the retailer. We live by trust, despite all the paperwork that legally we have to fill in, we actively enjoy the sound of a good earnest conversation and hope that our mutual trust is honoured.
What else can we discuss? Well we now have three of our wagons running partially on our recycled nut frying oil, so if the delivery lorry appears to smell like roasted cashews, you know why! We also recycle all our incoming packaging, import peanuts and almonds in large tote sacks which we can feed straight into our re-cleaning plant and have lights that only come on if they detect movement, so gone are the days that I could creep up undetected on the warehouse staff!
New crops will be appearing soon and the news is mixed. Peanuts are sky high; Almonds have a large crop projected but are being consumed in greater numbers, so prices holding up; Apricots will be more plentiful but have some signs of increased damage and are cheaper; Brazils are reaching scary levels; Pecans are like gold dust, so do not hold your breath for an overall surplus, those days may have gone for good!
Finally, can I wish you a Happy Christmas in August? And whilst on this track I will throw in a Healthy New Year as well, especially to all those that I have arrived at for an early morning coffee! Still time to see you in the Autumn though?
David Hider
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