Pakka AG was born from a passion for the fine cashew nuts in India. Shortly thereafter, the domestic conquest of the nut market in Switzerland began, with the nuts of the founders Ueli Baruffol and Balz Strasser impressing with quality and fair conditions. The value-added chain extends from the entire production to the distribution of the product and makes a lasting contribution to the success of Pakka AG.
Please introduce your company in three sentences
Pakka is the Swiss specialist for fair trade organic nuts produced by small farmers. Our assortment includes natural, roasted and spiced, as well as sweet nuts. Our divisions cover the entire nut value chain: From cultivation in the countries of origin and project financing to raw material trading and the marketing of nuts under our premium Pakka brand.
Are your products certified? If so, by which certifications and why?
Fairtrade Max Havelaar: The living conditions of small farmers in the countries of origin of our products cannot be compared with western standards. Fair trade is therefore indispensable in order to give the small farmers a viable future. EU Organic/Bio Suisse Bud: Organically produced food is part of a sustainable, responsible agriculture. Only in this way can yields be secured in the long-run and for generations to come.
Why did you decide to work with Farmy?
Farmy and Pakka are partners that share the same values: high quality and authentic food with transparent origins.
What is special about your products and their production?
Quality: We offer high quality, fair trade organic nuts. The nuts are gently roasted without oil and then seasoned by hand. This takes place in a small roasting plant near Bern. Responsible value chain: We take care of the entire nut value chain “in-house”: from cultivation, to financing (e.g. pre-financing of harvests), to raw materials trading and the marketing of the nuts under the Pakka brand. We only work with selected partners with whom we maintain long-term trading relationships. The aim is to generate as much added value as possible in the countries of origin.
Which channels do you use to sell your products?
· Organic stores
· Online shops
· our website
· Hotels and Restaurants
· Catering
· Airlines
· Private Label
Have daily processes, routines or even sales channels changed due to the Corona crisis?
We are registering a drop in sales in the restaurant, hotel and airline sector, growth in the online sector and bricks and mortar organic specialty stores. Many people spend time in their home office. Skype calls are part of everyday working life. Due to limited travel, communication with our project partners in the countries of origin is more challenging.
Projects are delayed, for example the certification of supply chains and products, because the responsible authorities are not allowed to travel. The situation in many of our partners’ countries is critical due to the Corona crisis, as health systems are weak. How all this will affect nut production and the nut trade remains to be seen.
Do you see potential or opportunities arising from the crisis?
The shift towards online shopping is being accelerated, which will benefit us both in the Pakka webshop and through partner channels such as Farmy.
Anything else you’d like to add?
We look forward to further good collaboration and numerous, generously filled Farmy shopping baskets.
What do you think?