On February 3rd Manuel Hofer, CEO of TOP-TEAM Zentraleinkauf, headed out to a trip through Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong. Organized by the business partner Eurogroup Far East (member of the Coop group), Hofer and his colleagues from Transgourmet Switzerland and Germany visited several prawn farms in the Mekong delta.

The farmers of the high quality, extensively cultivated prawns could be reached only by boat. The quality of the products, as well as the hygienic standards fulfilled the highest expectations. But not only prawns were subject of the journey. Frozen goods, tuna, ducks, dry fruits, nuts as well as basic ingredients for traditional Thai recipes were tasted and audited directly at their origin. In summary, many precious impressions were received, which will be incorporated into category management concepts, pooling of purchases and ideas for common Fareast sourcing. Among the contentual development, the personal interaction of this 10-day-trip was a huge benefit for the future cooperation and progression within the international Transgourmet group.