price-conscious, but the price of soybean has fluctuated widely and become more expensive, in some years noting a 30% rise.” Baltussen, with his chemical background, is concentrating more on innovation as well as sales, while Vernooij with his rich experience of compost, supplements, spawn and casing soil, has taken on a greater role as the visiting card of the company for customers.
Customers, in Vernooij’s opinion, lack know- ledge on the differences in supplements, and sometimes fail to properly check what they are actually buying. Baltussen: “Eric’s arrival has brought more advice to the table, meaning at growing room level. Ultimately, we have always learned most from our customers. An identical product will ‘behave’ differently on various types of compost as structure, moisture content, temperature and biological activity all exert a huge influence on the release of nutrients contained in the supplement. Our specific product knowledge, coupled with feedback from our customers about the results, means we can customise the products to suit the individual needs of our users.” Consequently, more than 40 different blends and different price categories are produced.
Another change for the two men is their personal joint venture with Lambert Spawn America. They admit it can sometimes be convenient for ChampFood if they have to visit a customer for Lambert or the other way round. “But it is not a one-on-one combi of course”, clarifies Vernooij. Lambert Spawn Europa BV and ChampFood are two individual companies with a number of shareholders in common.
▲ Eric Vernooij (left) and Jan Baltussen.
companies at trade fairs claiming that with the improved product ‘X’ you can supposedly realise an additional yield of 1½ kg per square metre compared with the previous product. But if you do the sums, that adds up to a whole lot of extra kilos over the years! We are more modest, and give a realistic picture of what you can expect to see in extra yields using our supplement. We also warn of the risk of using supplement if there is a higher pressure of infection, or other problems related to growing. After all, you shouldn’t eat cream if you feel sick.” Baltussen considers Eric joining the company as a high point: from 2009 until present the turnover has doubled, partly due to Eric’s committed efforts and the extra possibilities offered by the new production plant. Vernooij: “Customers are very
Jubilee For the near future, the two men at ChampFood see increasing differentiation among supple- ments. Not a single, revolutionary new product, but more ‘EKO’ and ‘BIO’ organic products. They are currently looking forward to the big jubilee celebrations planned for 31 May, an event to which many of their business relations have been invited. Christiaens Group will be organi- sing a tour for its customers on the same day that will end in Vierlingsbeek and transport to Vierlingsbeek has also been arranged for ISMS-tour participants.
“We are planning a fabulous evening for everyone as a way of thanking our customers, without whom we would never have been able to launch ChampFood onto the market in the first place”, concludes Jan Baltussen. ChampFood has a new website:
www.Champ-
Food.com The company is a Bronze Sponsor of the 19th ISMS conference and will naturally also be present at the Dutch Mushroom Days, stand 23.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 41
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