The Diversity of European Sausage Specialties
Interview with Wolfgang Schneider, Sales Manager, and Bernd Semelink, Managing Director of Tarczyński Deutschland GmbH and BW Handels- und Vertriebs GmbH
Hardly anyone knows the retail grocery sector as well as Bernd Semelink and Wolfgang Schneider. The two entrepreneurs have been working in this challenging sector with different company profiles for 23 years. Ten years ago, they took the step towards self-employment and founded BW Handels- und Vertriebs GmbH with the aim of marketing high-quality European sausage and cured ham specialties in Germany. The cooperation with the Polish manufacturer Tarczyński S.A. since 2014 has led to the founding of Tarczyński Deutschland GmbH.
Tarczyński S.A., based in Trzebnica, has been active in the production and sale of high-quality meat products for over 30 years. By now, the family business produces at several locations in Poland and exports worldwide to more than 30 countries. Major products include Kabanossi, Frankfurters, cured boiled products, as well as alternative plant-based products.
"Tarczyński is an innovative manufacturer of high-quality sausages and protein snacks, thus fitting very well into the product range of BW, which specializes in sausage and ham specialties from northern and southern Spain, France, and most recently Dalmatia," summarizes Managing Director Bernd Semelink. In the meantime, Tarczyński S.A. has a financial stake in BW. "A very close interlocking was intended," explains Bernd Semelink. "Today, we hold the general distribution responsibility for Tarczyński in the German-speaking area, which naturally also includes the foreign activities of German retail chains in Eastern Europe."
Great Potential
Currently, BW generates an annual turnover of approximately 60 million EUR in these markets. "This figure includes all international assortments distributed by BW," explains sales manager Wolfgang Schneider. "Especially the Tarczyński range is very expansive, so we expect strong growth."
Innovative new products are constantly being added to the assortment. "This is about adapting classical products to consumer needs with new packaging sizes or weights, as well as addressing new consumer groups with new products," explains Bernd Semelink.
Snacking with SNACK !T
Particularly in the snack area, Tarczyński is very innovative. "We are very strong with the theme of Kabanossi in all conceivable variations including meatless options," says Bernd Semelink. These are distributed internationally under the brand SNACK !T, while traditional products continue under the Tarczyński brand. "We are also active in the premium segment in the own brand and private label area," says sales manager Wolfgang Schneider. "With this, we account for the significant market shift in the discount sector and thus cover all possible sales channels for our partners."
Another strength is the fact that they not only pay lip service to the trend towards vegan alternatives. "We were both surprised at how good these products were, which shows how far the industry has developed in the last ten years," notes Wolfgang Schneider.
Close to the Consumer
Bernd Semelink and Wolfgang Schneider owe their success to their long-standing experience in food retail and sales. The existing know-how from the distribution of Spanish specialties under the brand El Gusto benefits the company with its Polish specialties.
"We are very successful in sales and have a high distribution range," says Bernd Semelink. "With the brands Tarczyński and SNACK !T, we can operate on two fronts and win over both Polish consumers living in Germany, who are already familiar with the brand, and German consumers who want to try something new."