First successes and valuable insights <\/strong> More organic products <\/strong> Photos: \u00a9 Rose de Sable<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Meriem Ben Dlala liebt die Natur. Und sie liebt ihr Land, das zu den gr\u00f6\u00dften Dattelproduzenten der Welt geh\u00f6rt. Die s\u00fc\u00dfe W\u00fcstenfrucht ist f\u00fcr sie der Inbegriff der jahrtausendealten Kultur Tunesiens. Ben Dlala arbeitet f\u00fcr den Dattelproduzenten Rose de Sable. \u201eIch m\u00f6chte unsere Kultur mit dem Rest der Welt teilen\u201c, sagt die Biologin \u00fcber ihren … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mp.aleph-consult.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/71_BP_Ben-Dlala-Elbe-1-300x262.png\")
From Quality Manager to Project Manager<\/strong>
\nAnswering the question of what exactly the company does, Ben Dlala explains: \u201cI do everything\u201d, and laughs. She started work at Rose de Sable, which means \u201cdesert rose\u201d, as a quality manager. Her area of responsibility has grown since her participation in the Manager Training Programme in 2019. Now she is also responsible for the areas of Research & Development and Customer Relations and reports directly to the company\u2019s management. \u201cI am involved in all stages from the field to the customer\u201d, the energetic manager says. Her broad knowledge benefits her in negotiations with new customers, where in-depth specialist and technical know-how are needed and it is impossible to be prepared for every question.<\/p>\n
\nIn Germany, Ben Dlala entered into cooperation with a trading company for dried fruits in Hamburg. Since then, several truckloads of the nutritious palm fruit from the Sahara have made their way to the Elbe. The sweet temptations were sold in reputable supermarkets; in 2020, however, deliveries stopped. Ben Dlala explains that price pressure is strong. There is a lot of competition, including that from other countries such as Egypt and Iran. \u201cThen the corona crisis broke out and everything became more complicated, expensive and unpredictable: customs duty, transport, documents\u201d, the manager continues. But she is optimistic and believes that she will soon be able to dispatch her dates again. And she has drawn a lesson from this experience: \u201cWe will sharpen our strategy and concentrate on alternative products.\u201d One example is a new product for the Japanese market: the company\u2019s own \u201cCastilla\u201d brand of dates in stand-up pouches. Despite the difficult situation, the firm has been able to maintain their turnover level in the corona year.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mp.aleph-consult.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/71_BP_Ben-Dlala-Datteln-232x300.jpg\")
Snack bars made in Tunisia <\/strong>
\nOne of Ben Dlala\u2019s innovative ideas is the development of energy bars and healthy snacks based on dates. These snacks are produced from by-products from the date processing. The manager is currently preparing a corresponding project study. Up to now, Rose de Sable has only sold different types of whole dates. However, the market for healthy snacks is promising, as Ben Dlala learned in Germany. Creating a higher degree of added value for the products is an important step towards the future for her company.<\/p>\n
\nIn future, more organic crops are to be cultivated. Rose de Sable already produces exclusively organic dates on its own plantations. In 2020, they made up roughly 20 per cent of total sales. The plan is to increase their share to 50 per cent by 2025, and the firm intends to buy further plots for date cultivation before the end of 2021. Further investments are also being made in this connection: \u201cWe are planning an extension to our factory in Tozeur, which will expand our annual capacity by 25 per cent\u201d, says Ben Dlala. Rose de Sable also advocates fair trade in the cultivation: The company helps disadvantaged producers and farmers to improve their quality of life.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mp.aleph-consult.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/71_BP_Ben-Dlala-Palme-225x300.jpg\")
Know-how as a unique selling proposition <\/strong>
\nThe unique selling proposition of the family-run firm is its in-depth knowledge of the secrets of date cultivation, gathered over several decades. Dates are a very delicate fruit, as biologist Ben Dlala explains. The agricultural process of their cultivation is spread across the entire year, and every step is decisive for a good harvest. \u201cI have always been fascinated by plants and fruits. I continue to learn so much about dates, and that is exciting and inspiring every day. It is simply a wonderful adventure\u201d, says the 30-year-old nature lover, who is doing her best to get the fruit of this adventure back on the German market soon.<\/p>\n