Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks the start of the new year has traditionally marked the launch of marketing for its flagship Rubis Gold apple at Devos Group volumes are already almost completely sold out We deliberately decided to start the Rubis Gold season a bit earlier which meant no need to take risks with longer storage in the fridges." This meant the Rubis Gold season began as early as mid-October "We had a production of around 550 tons this year and we were very satisfied with the quality of the apples Despite a challenging season in terms of quality across all apple varieties The pack-out was better than in previous years with a high percentage of Class I fruit," he explains but it's clear we are getting to know the apple better and better The Rubis Gold has shown significant potential there's now a big responsibility to refine the process and fully unlock that potential Changing perceptions about such a yellow apple is challenging but you can see people becoming more familiar with it Its strengths remain its hard and dry texture along with its fine and distinctive flavor We also benefited from a less saturated apple market this season but I believe we've moved beyond that with this variety but there's still interest in offering the Rubis Gold in retail." which proved to be a great way to push the product forward things move quickly when you have a limited volume and we've set aside some outsize apples to actively establish new lines." we can call this a very successful season," he continues but we are still working with relatively limited volumes The key takeaway is that most people come back for the apple after tasting it what happens when we scale up to much higher volumes we'll need significant investment in publicity and marketing to make Rubis Gold more popular with the general public Only then will we truly see if its popularity continues to grow." This is where the company plans to take its next steps in the coming years About 90 percent of the trees are now between one and three years old We've already expanded steadily in recent years and next season we hope to harvest 1,000 tons the dream is to offer Rubis Gold year-round and we aim to proceed responsibly and stably over the coming years For more information:Louis De CleeneDevos Group Eugeen Coolsstraat 663460 Bekkevoort - BelgiumTel: +32 473 21 58 76[email protected]www.devosgroup.com FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com The season has come to an end for the Rubis Gold apples at Devos Group The company from Bekkevoort in Flanders has been increasingly focusing on this yellow and this year they were able to work with a production total of around 400 tons for the first time "It's still a learning process for us in every way we are continuing to write what can become a beautiful story we can certainly speak of a very positive season," says Louis De Cleene of Devos Group the apples have been on Belgian shelves and although the yellow apple still needs to gain recognition in Northern Europe the trader sees this season as something to build on "We have been increasing our production volume over the past few years we can even say that with a larger production And that's really all you can hope for in these early years we were also able to sell all the 'smaller' sizes in stock under different packaging and even this was more successful than expected." Snowstorm"If we as a company do our job well and have everything under control from the field through the fridge to sorting and marketing flavorful and dry apple can achieve what we had expected from the beginning," continues Louis Some of our best growers have already planted Rubis Gold but we are currently producing mainly on our own land still there is now the great responsibility to really handle this process well and to realize its potential I think you always have this responsibility as a company in a similar situation." but there were also things that didn't go our way we had planned a big promotion with Lidl and Studio 100 but that turned out to be perhaps the worst week of the season in terms of retail sales but expectations were that we could really make a splash a severe snowstorm swept through the country so many people decided not to go to the store that week." we also had to send a limited volume to the industry because we had harvested two plots too late we want to market the brand in the best way possible It makes one very critical of the quality brought to the market and quicker to drop plots that do not meet these standards We turned necessity into a virtue and did a little experiment with making our own juice from the Rubis Gold Normally it goes by truck to the factory and you don't know where it ends up which resulted in a particularly tasty juice Perhaps we will do more with this in the future." Despite still being in the midst of a learning process the trader expects to expand volumes in the coming years "Many trees are still in their first years of growth so in the coming years we expect to meet the increasing demand Various parties are trying to get our attention we can still speak of another beautiful season with the Northern European market warming up to the yellow apple Overseas competition pearsLooking at the current situation regarding pears "Conference pears have generally had a good year and are expected to end that way some parties will leave and switch to imported fruit this is offset by the fact that there is less volume on the market What remains is then distributed over the lines that continue This is not abnormal; it keeps the market balanced towards the summer months "It is noticeable that the pears in bulk are being sold for a very high price On Monday they were still going for €1.18 and even €1.19 per kg We know exactly what we still need to sell in the coming months and have the right pears for it Everything is planned." He is not afraid of overseas competition there will always be positives and negatives a real classic and the favorite of many consumers so we hope to get through the last months in a nice way and are also looking forward to the start of the cherries," Louis concludes For more information:Louis De Cleene Devos GroupEugeen Coolsstraat 663460 Bekkevoort - België+32 473 21 58 76 [email protected] www.devosgroup.com Motorists on the E314 motorway at Bekkevoort in Flemish Brabant could hardly believe their eyes on Tuesday morning when a bull crossed the road in front of them Amazingly the escaped farm animal was not injured and is now back in its barn The bull had wandered onto the eastbound carriageway of the E314 A trucker Geert Cuypers was driving his lorry on the motorway at the time told VRT News that “ I tried to position my truck so that the animal would not cross the motorway but it walked on calmly between the cars."  but the bull was just walking on between the cars but by then the animal had disappeared and the traffic jam was gone VRT News has been told that the animal is now  back on the farm where it lives and safe and sound in its barn “I try to waste as little time as possible in the morning, so I stick to a jar of yoghurt. And coffee. I really do drink a lot of coffee in a day. Fortunately, my stomach tolerates that well.” Nolmans will soon be moving to Halen, where he will renovate a house in the centre. Today, he is still living in Bekkevoort, where the story of the enterprising Nolmans family – Koen is the eldest of three brothers – once began with his father, Edmond. Thirty-five years later, those toys are still Nolmans’ great passion. Anyone who enters his modest office in Genk is welcomed by a life-size and bright red Sith trooper from Star Wars, a bonsai tree made of Lego and an assortment of cars. “At that time, you only had some local stores and the supermarkets that sold toys around the festival of St. Nicholas. I started to find my own way. Where am I going to buy Barbies? Little did I know what Mattel was. Where am I going to buy MB? Little did I know what Hasbro was. Lego, they didn’t want to deliver in the beginning, because they thought I was a fantasist. (laughs) I once even literally sat on the doorstep at Lego in Brussels until the Sales Director came out.” “We had entered into a non-competition agreement at the time of the sale. We were not allowed to do anything with toys in Belgium for three years. And that’s how we started ToyChamp in the Netherlands.” “Almost. Everything will be in place on 1 October.” “Yes, but not a huge one. What plays into it, of course, is that DreamLand also operates in Wallonia. Wallonia has a different offering than Flanders. Simply because many toys are media-related. A good example is Miraculous, a Disney series. That has been very successful in the south for years. Whereas with us, it never got off the ground. On the other hand, in Wallonia, Bumba or Plop don’t mean anything.” “Until the end of this year. But this is a decision they themselves had already made. It was one of the last stores they still had open, along with Quartier Bleu. And that – to put it mildly – is not Hasselt’s greatest success, after all. So that one was running in the red.” “Wim is responsible for purchasing all the products that are not toys. And Frank comes from logistics. He is now responsible for finding new stores and renovating our existing stores.” “I’m also working today to enhance our management team. I definitely still want to be active in five years, but then I want to start passing on the torch quietly. That’s why I’m now looking for someone who can become my right-hand man – a kind of CFO-COO.” “There is definitely still some potential in the Netherlands. We’ve always said we want a ToyChamp in every city of more than 100,000 inhabitants there. There are about 30 of those cities in the Netherlands. And in the very large cities, there may be room for two stores. But to answer your question: candidate is a big word, but I’m always look at what’s happening in our market. Intertoys, of course, is of a different calibre. We have 24 stores in the Netherlands – they have 220.” “I don’t play any sports, which is a big shortcoming. Mainly due to lack of time. Let’s just say I’m interested in cars, but that’s where it ends. It’s not like I have a garage with ten cars. And I’m a huge Star Wars fan. When a new film hits the screens, I’m the first to go and see it.” As a child, what were your favourite toys? “Lego. That really does promote creativity enormously. My son Stan always got that from St Nicholas, too, and then used my old Lego to supplement his plans.” Do you have a favourite holiday destination? “I try to attach a few days of holiday to my professional travels sometimes. That’s how I’ve seen some beautiful parts of Asia anyway: China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia.” “South America I’ve never seen, so Machu Picchu and Argentina I still want to visit. Just like Oceania.” “With our Dutch stores, we support Kika, the Cancer-Free Children fund. That ranges from selling panda bears to my brother Wim getting sponsored to cycle up the Stelvio Pass. With DreamLand, we’re going to see what we can do in Belgium.” “Of course. We’ve also had to close some stores because they weren’t performing. For example, Tongeren was our best opening ever in 2015. But two months later, DreamLand opened right over us at the T-Forum. And that market was too small.” “Because I’ve always done my job with great dedication, I’ve not been there enough for my son. Now he’s studying in Leuven and I’m trying to overcompensate, perhaps. Which actually isn’t that great either, because you can’t make up for the time anyway. My father’s death also affected me deeply. We really were a strong tandem. From 2000, he was actually no longer active in the business. Yet he still came to Genk every morning. By the way, his desk is still here the way he left it.” Company: ToyChamp Holding Company. Owner of 33 ToyChamp toy stores (9 in Belgium and 24 in the Netherlands) and, from 1 October 2024, also of 48 DreamLand stores Number of employees: 400 at ToyChamp and 600 at DreamLand Family composition: divorced, now happily together with Kim. Father of Stan (20) PremiumLess is more: deze 15 beautyproducten kun je voor meer dan een toepassing gebruikenMinder spullen in je badkamer, maar méér gebruik? Deze beautyproducten zijn heuse multitaskers. Een nachtmasker dat je ook als lippenbalsem gebruikt? Of eyeliner/highlighter? 15 keer beauty die meer dan een taak vervullen. Israëlisch oorlogskabinet stemt voor “verovering van heel Gaza”Het Israëlische oorlogskabinet onder leiding van premier Benjamin Netanyahu heeft unaniem gestemd voor nieuwe aanvallen op de Gazastrook. Het plan voorziet in de “verovering van heel Gaza en het vasthouden van de gebieden”, zo berichten Israëlische media maandag. ‘Huis gemaakt’-deelnemers Meaghan en Manu doneren samen plasma bij Rode Kruis-VlaanderenVoormalige deelnemers van het VTM-programma ‘Huis gemaakt’ Meaghan en Manu hebben maandag in Edegem samen plasma gedoneerd bij Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen. Hun donatie is de 1.500ste donordate, waarbij twee mensen zich samen engageren om bloed of plasma te doneren en gekende donoren nieuwe donoren een duwtje in de rug geven om donor te worden. PremiumRechtbankvoorzitter had harde woorden voor Tom Waes: “U beseft dat dit neigt naar moorddadig gedrag?”Tom Waes (56) gaf toe dat hij wellicht geen reflexen meer had toen hij die bewuste nacht dronken achter het stuur kroop. De rechtbank sprak hem streng toe en herinnerde hem eraan dat drinken en rijden niet samengaan. Waes werd twintig jaar geleden al betrapt op rijden onder invloed. Warmer feet, less noise from neighbours and cheaper: insulation made from waste in Genk While his friends were enjoying life, young twenty-something Sam Chartouni was experimenting in a lab he had slung together himself. His dream was to make the best organic insulation material in the world. Alken brewery expands and gets new access road, relieving the centre of Alken The deputation from the province of Limburg has granted an environmental permit to Alken-Maes brewery for the construction of a new access road and the construction of a new warehouse at the site in Alken. This should significantly reduce lorry and car traffic in the centre. Heukelom water tower gets work by Bilzen metal artist Kevin Oyen The Heukelom water tower, which will soon become a B&B with a meditation centre, will get a work of art by Bilzen metal artist Kevin Oyen. He will also be responsible for part of the interior design. PremiumDiepenbeekse steenkapper verbaasd over gravering op graftombe Paus Franciscus: “Hoe is zoiets toch mogelijk?”“Staan die letters niet wat vreemd?” Sinds de begrafenis van paus Franciscus is er ophef en ongeloof over de gravering op zijn graftombe. Ook bij letterkappers in ons land. “Hoe is zoiets toch mogelijk?”, vraagt de Diepenbeekse letterkapper Jos Geusens zich af. Premium“Ik haal volgende zomer niet, maar praat er niet over. We eten gewoon wortelstoemp”: Rika Ponnet over de troost van routineEr komt geen kerst meer dit jaar, geen verjaardag. Ze zal nooit ouder zijn dan ze recent werd, de eindstreep, die veel te vroeg komt, is in zicht. En toch gaat ze gewoon verder met de orde van de dag: wortels schrapen, aardappelen schillen, een was insteken. Want hoe doe je dat, leven in dit soort tijd? Hoe pak je dat aan? PremiumVan kraaknet naar kraakpand: zo verloederde de plek van de Hasseltse horrormoordHoe konden twee Hasseltse woningen, vlak bij de Grote Ring, in die mate verloederen dat er een gruwelmoord op een kraker kon plaatsvinden? Een aanslepend conflict tussen de twee eigenaars ligt aan de basis, zo blijkt. Voormalig huishoudster Britse koninklijke familie klapt uit de biecht: “Dit vind je nooit meer in de badkamer van koning Charles”In haar meer dan tien jaar dienst had Anne Simmons, ex-huishoudster in Buckingham Palace, genoeg tijd om alle 78 badkamers te leren kennen. In een interview verklapt zij welk item voorgoed werd verbannen bij de Windsors: “Het zorgde voor te veel problemen.” Bianca Censori toont halfnaakt nieuwe ‘look’ op InstagramGehurkt, met een visnetjurkje en lang haar. Zo staat Bianca Censori, die in 2022 trouwde met Kanye (Ye) West, op haar nieuwe Instagramverhaal. Haar volgers reageren al langer vol ongeloof op haar sociale media: “Meid, ren toch van je man weg.” Hoeveel verdien je in telecom, ICT & internet?De sector van telecom, ICT & internet is zeer breed en uiterst divers. Dankzij het Jobat Salariskompas hebben we toch een mooie kijk gekregen op de gemiddelde lonen én extralegale voordelen die er gangbaar zijn. Een overzicht… Hoe is het om te wonen in Lier? Lier heeft 2 bijnamen: ‘Lierke Plezierke’ en ‘Schoon Lier’. Eigenlijk zegt dat al genoeg. En of het er plezant is: Lierse vlaaien, verschillende Lierse biertjes,.. de inwoners zelf zijn duidelijk erg trots op hun woonplaats. Wij stellen deze stad dan ook graag aan je voor!   Veertig enthousiaste oud-leidsters van Chiro As trokken samen naar domein Pietersheim voor een weekend vol nostalgie, vriendschap en plezier. 27 levens per veroverde kilometer: Rusland leed vorig jaar recordverliezen in Oekraïne2024 was het dodelijkste jaar voor Russische troepen sinds het begin van de oorlog in Oekraïne. Minstens 45.287 mensen kwamen om het leven, zo becijferde de BBC. Belgische merken smelten samen: Côte d’Or krijgt een Biscoff smaakjeMondelēz International en Lotus Bakeries slaan de handen in elkaar en brengen binnenkort samen een nieuwe tablet met chocolade van Côte d’Or en knapperige stukjes Lotus Biscoff op de markt. Dat hebben de twee bedrijven maandag bekendgemaakt op een persconferentie. Belgische toeriste en zoon omgekomen bij overstromingen in Jordanië: twee andere kinderen van vrouw levend teruggevondenEen Belgische toeriste en haar zoon zijn omgekomen bij overstromingen in het zuiden van Jordanië. Dat melden de lokale autoriteiten en wordt bevestigd door de FOD Buitenlandse Zaken. De twee andere kinderen van de vrouw zijn wel levend en in goede gezondheid teruggevonden. there is much speculation about the new crop of Belgian pears yields were estimated to be significantly lower due to the poor spring Then it seemed that the situation might turn out better than expected it now appears that there is indeed significantly less fruit being picked after all according to Louis De Cleene of Devos Group there will be less fruit on the trees than anticipated We expect about 25 percent less compared to a normal harvest." I spoke to one of our growers who had been picking for three days," continued the commercial manager of the Bekkevoort Flanders-based cultivation and trading company "He mentioned that he was now a day and a half ahead of schedule because there is so little fruit on the trees this will prevent us from having an oversaturated market this season we are facing competition from a number of countries that have had better harvests than last year there is a recovery from last year's disastrous season we expect a positive season for both cultivation and trade." More expensive small pearsIt will be tougher in the smaller pear market "The size of the pears is generally larger this year because there is less fruit on the trees I believe we will have to disappoint our customers who prefer smaller sizes especially as we are grateful to have those customers in other years This will cause the small pears to become more expensive we need to ensure that we can maintain strong export activity We have to sell them at a realistic but economically sound price early in the season Local pears are available everywhere in the first few months so we need to offer an attractive alternative in those countries at a good price I believe there will continue to be demand for Belgian Conference pears Our pear is still appreciated worldwide because of its excellent price-to-quality ratio." "One thing we will have to account for is pears with slight hail spots," he continues There are hardly any batches without hail damage so it is only superficial and does not affect the quality of the pear people will have to get used to this for the upcoming season." Deliberate spreading of riskLooking ahead to the new season Louis remains quite positive despite the lower volumes and there will be some supply for a week or two Prices are also traditionally a bit lower in October and November so many will probably wait until December or January A measured spreading of risk would be best for everyone and our regular growers operate the same way." it has paid off to sort and sell pears from our own portfolio throughout the year as this automatically hedges against the market's ups and downs We may not see miracles in sales before the New Year we can look forward to a strong spring with good prices If the eastern markets continue to load well and the Class 2 pears also sell steadily Apples remain a question markWhile the outlook for pears is generally positive the situation with apples is more uncertain it's still a case of looking at the bigger picture Certain plots of certain varieties have unusually low yields where you would only pick 5 tonnes per hectare there are also plots that are heavily laden combined with conditions from previous years "We have recently planted a lot of Rubis Gold but the yields don't seem to be too bad in terms of quantity they will grow a bit larger due to the lower volumes on the trees but that is certainly not a disadvantage." For more information:Louis De CleeneDevos Group Eugeen Coolsstraat 663460 Bekkevoort - Belgium+32(0)16 77 97 58[email protected]www.devosgroup.com