Newtec Experiences Sudden Influx of New Orders
At Newtec, representatives say there was an increase in new orders around Easter despite of the COVID-19 crisis. “Suddenly, the number of orders from many different markets increased, and now it seems that we are above the level of last year, which was a really good year,” says head of Sales, Christian Max Villadsen, comparing with the same period.
The new orders came from many different markets and customers. To his surprise, major orders came among other from Spain, Italy, France and the United States, which at the time were otherwise severely affected by the crisis.
Newtec has enjoyed success in developing and producing advanced machines that can weigh, sort and pack e.g. vegetables and fruits. Part of the demand for the machines – higher than expected during these troubled times – may be due to the fact that a large part of the consumption of such foods has shifted from catering kitchens to private consumers buying into retail. This means that a larger part of the products must be weighed and packed in smaller portions which is one of the core competencies of the Newtec machines. This is probably one of the reasons for the growing interest, says Christian Max Villadsen.
Consumer behavior shows that rather than buying bulk products, consumers increasingly prefer fruits and vegetables that are packaged and therefore not touched by other customers in the supermarket. In addition, a lack of manpower in several markets may have led customers to decide on Newtec’s automation and not stall their investment till after the crisis.
Like everyone, Newtec has adapted their daily workflow to cope with the new situation without disrupting the main operation and has transformed production and administration with great focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19, and according to the head of Sales, it works so well that the company can continue that way for as long as necessary.
“Due to travel restrictions we are, as you know, grounded but still committed to maintain our quality and continuity of service by phone and mail,” Christian Max Villadsen concludes.
