A load of antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins are available in the produce aisle from white and brown fungi, commonly known as mushrooms. Indeed, scientists at the  Institute of Food Technologists in the United States have discovered that mushrooms are not only low in calories, cholesterol and sodium, they are also in high in antioxidants, selenium, riboflavin and other healthful substances that protect the immune system and fight cancer. Combine this with culinary creativity and you have the ideal product for today’s increasingly sophisticated and health conscious consumer.

Netherlands-based Banken Champignons first opened its doors for business in the 1970s, steadily expanding over the years from a small business that sold most of its mushrooms via auction through to a major concern that exports product to locations as diverse as Belgium, France, the Scandinavian countries, Poland, Russia, the UK, and South European countries. The company even exports to distant parts of the globe such as the Dutch Antilles, Aruba and the Middle East.

Banken is far from a company that ‘just’ trades in mushrooms though; instead, it is a highly experienced and creative firm that brings new concepts and ideas to the marketplace. The company has a special division, for instance, that develops what Banken calls its Convenience line.

Bas Toonen is responsible for marketing and product development at Banken, and he explained how the company converts convenience in mushrooms into practice. “We get specific requests from our customers to supply market oriented products or we develop new concepts ourselves based on our own consumer research. We devote a lot of time to this, and conduct high levels of research. The customer is always the central focus, and ever-higher quality demands are also placed.”

Market leader Banken wants to consolidate its leading position in convenience by responding to new trends and by intensive co-operation, propelling the once humble mushroom into the minds of both leading chefs and adventurous housewives.

Adventurous? Surely the mushroom cannot be described as ‘adventurous’, you may say. But you’d be wrong. For at Banken, they develop products that take this perennially popular ingredient into new and exciting arenas. Recently, for example, Banken has launched a new fresh convenience line, Mushroom Secrets, into its home market in the Netherlands, and it’s created quite a stir.

Mushroom Secrets is a brand new concept: making exotic mushrooms, such as the

the rare and sought after Shimeji and Eryngii, easier to use for the consumer. This includes selling the product in retail packaging that incorporates recipes and other useful information, dictating that the consumer can create extremely tasty, healthy and innovative dishes in the home, quickly and easily. It is envisaged that Mushrooms Secrets will be available in the UK within the next six months, with Banken highly confident that this most natural of products will not only grab the imagination of the British consumer, but also respond to the growing demand for more environmentally friendly and sustainable food ingredients. People want to experience the wild nature, how mushrooms were grown and what it offers in terms of nutrients: Banken is giving the consumer the entire package ... and a bit more besides.

Currently employing a workforce of around 360 highly trained personnel in seven different facilities (Poland, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands), including five outside of the Netherlands, Banken’s customers include major supermarket chains, potato, vegetable and fruit wholesalers, importers and exporters, catering suppliers and food providers, traders and the canning industry.

Banken enjoys an excellent reputation as a supplier of the very highest quality, and is renowned for its flexibility. The quality of the company’s products and services is guaranteed by the constant supervision of its growers, as well as a logistic network that is cooled from start to finish. Its optimal service performance has lead to certification in many areas: BRC, IFS, Global-Gap, SKAL, Tesco Nature’s Choice, Field to Fork have all been awarded to Banken.

Quality and food safety are the most important demands placed on both the company and its products. All products are supplied by producers who share this vision, with all suppliers being certified in compliance with the latest standards. Every single grower is Eurep-Gap certified - the major system for production companies. All of these systems and commitments help to give its valued customers complete peace of mind:

Customers are able to rely upon Banken to supply premium quality mushrooms.

Banken offers the customer an intensive risk and hazard analysis inventory, so it can guarantee hygienic treatment of mushrooms at all times.

Customers can be assured that they are buying mushrooms that have been grown and treated according to fixed, documented procedures.

All orders and any possible complaints are handled according to a fixed protocol. Banken continues to invest in expanding its quality system, so that the company can guarantee its customers optimal service.