Israeli flower and vegetable producer Bickel Group has defied the credit crunch and moved the company’s business forward in the UK with new niche line offers. The decorative flower arrangement piece Buddha fingers, which is a variety of lemon that does not have any flesh and was first discovered in the Far East as a mutation, has only been commercially grown in Israel for the last three years and is exported solely by Bickel. The unusual citrus, as well as another niche line sea plant samphire has found a market in the UK, according to Danny Denan, ceo of the Bickel Group.
“Despite the downturn in the UK, more than 30 per cent of our produce still goes to the UK,” said Denan, who exports tomatoes, herbs and edible flowers, as well as flowers and decorative produce. “It used to be close to 35 per cent, but the price has been challenging. However, I believe in the UK as a strategic country and we are looking to increase volumes into the country. The downturn will pass quickly and will be the first country to get out of the recession.”
The Bickel Group has seen demand for both Buddha fingers and samphire increase over the last couple of months and Denan believes that this proves that there is still room for innovation even in recession. “The market is harder, but we see no reason to cower away like other businesses have done,” continues Denan. “Samphire has been doing well in the UK foodservice sector and we send 700kg to the UK a week.”
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