This article is a part of FOODprint, our comprehensive publication that provides deep insights into the critical intersection of agriculture, food production, and climate change. Read the full publication here.
Zsolt Varga, Food & Agri Practice Leader at GrECo Group, recently spoke with János Ziegler, Managing Director and Owner of the company, to delve into the company’s operations and discuss their enduring partnership with GrECo Hungary.
Ziegler Trading, which is headquartered in Zsámbék, Hungary, specializes in producing cheese plates. Zsolt Varga, Food & Agri Practice Leader at GrECo Group, recently spoke with János Ziegler, Managing Director and Owner of the company, to delve into the company’s operations and discuss their enduring partnership with GrECo Hungary.
Varga: Please can you tell us a little bit about Ziegler Trading?
Ziegler: Of course! In a nutshell, we make cheese plates in various sizes with a large variety of different cheeses. We were founded in 1970 by my father and moved the business to Zsámbék 22 years ago as a greenfield operation.
We have a large foreign customer base and export over 70% of our cheese plates to 12 European countries either under the brand name Ziegler or as supermarket-own brands. We are an ISF-Food certified company, and we also have an organic food licence.
Varga: What’s the history of your relationship with GrECo Hungary? Why did you choose GrECo as your insurance partner?
Ziegler: We have been cooperating with GrECo for over 20 years. Your company offers us a wide range of insurance solutions and it represents Ziegler Trading very efficiently in all insurance related matters. Over the years GrECo Hungary has secured better conditions for us than an insurance company just dealing with one type of insurance, or any other independent broker company in the Hungarian market. Plus, the team has always helped us efficiently navigate any claims processes whenever we have needed them to.
Varga: You mentioned that you export a lot of your products. Where are your main markets?
Ziegler: We export to several major European markets: to give you an idea the UK, France, Germany, Austria, and Sweden are some of them. We’re also exporting within Eastern Europe with the Czech Republic being our biggest market in the region.
Varga: Initially you had property, general and product liability insurance with GrECo. How did the idea of extending the coverage come about?
Ziegler: Funnily enough, it happened by accident. I had mistakenly thought general product liability insurance also covered the cost of product recall claims. I found out during one of my conversations with GrECo Hungary’s experts that this wasn’t the case, and the rest is history.
Varga: Do you feel more secure now you are covered against product recall risks?
Ziegler: I feel much more resilient now. If for whatever reason there are any unforeseen product recall expenses, I am safe in the knowledge that despite having to reclaim products from across Europe, the huge expenses entailed in doing so will be covered. That is a great comfort.
Varga: Have you ever had to make a claim? What happened and how did your insurance help?
Ziegler: Fortunately, we haven’t had any product recalls yet. However, there was a case a few years ago when apparently one of our products had metal contamination. A customer who bought our product forged some medical documents which accused us of hazards to health. They were after compensation. Under the scope of the insurance cover, GrECo mobilised the insurance company’s doctors and they were able to prove that the documents were fake. The end of the story is that the tricky customer decided it was best to disappear and the case was closed. Thanks to GrECo securing us the right coverage and helping us to deal efficiently with the bogus claim everything was sorted, and our reputation wasn’t damaged.
János Ziegler
Managing Director and Owner
Ziegler Trading
Zsolt Varga
Deputy Group Practice Leader Food & Agriculture
T +36 20 292 33 73
