In our series “Nachgefragt” we would like to introduce you our customers give you insights into their company.

We begin with the “Genusshandwerkern” from Düsseldorf.

The company cooperates closely with regional producers and attaches value “to the tradition (…), craftsmanship, love of the product and a lot of experience”. Only the highest quality food is offered, which is carefully selected and fair. Founder Hans-Georg Pestka is “enjoying with appreciation”.

Questions to founder and Managing Director Hans-Georg Pestka:

• Mr. Pestka, the “Genusshandwerker” was founded before the topic e-food was on everyone’s minds. When did you start selling selected foods over the Internet and why?
• My first experiences with the Internet as a platform were made at the turn of the millennium. Therefore, it was natural for me to create the link between supply and demand – the classical task of a trader. Through this way, the “Genusshandwerker” started in 2007.

• Why did you choose the Internet as the main distribution channel?
• On the one hand, it allows us to equally reach all customers regardless of their location. On the other hand, we can change our assortment every day and thus can be as attractive as a weekly market. In addition, we can be more individually oriented in the communication with the customers.

• Often disadvantages of the online trade include the missing service, the lack of environmental awareness and a long delivery process. Your impressive customer reviews draw a completely different picture. How does “Genusshandwerker” manage to circumvent the disadvantages of the shipping concept so perfectly?
• What our customers appreciate is the same you would also appreciate in a stationary business. The point is whether one is willing to be there for the customer really do so. Maybe also a little bit, whether it comes from the head or – like us – with a large portion of heart and pleasure at what we do.

• In December 2016, a great article appeared about you in “brandeins”, an opportunity that not many companies receive. What makes you particularly competitive?
• I always rather speak of “colleagues” rather than of competition. Each of us is trying to find their way. “Genusshandwerker” has different meanings – besides the enterprise, it is all the producers who produce these outstanding food as well as our customers, through whose hands create special meals from the supplied cooking ingredients. Food is culture for me and so we “curate” our range of goods, as well as background knowledge and opinions, which are part of a lively exchange at the table.

• Your private lifestyle is the same as concept of Genusshandwerker is well portrayed in your personally guided blog. Do you, as an entrepreneur, also have a responsibility to influence social and ecological drawbacks?
• I see myself as a man with the responsibility, no matter what job or role I am doing right now. To bring this together is a great blessing and I would hope that more people recognize this possibility and open it up for themselves. As a company, we have not only anchored this point of view in our values, but also made it very transparent with a public welfare balance. This is because the economy is there for people and not vice versa.

• In a blog post, you criticize the phrase, “We do not know what we eat, but where the right place is – it’s the right place to go.” Some people do not eat with conviction. Provocatively asked: Is bio just a temporary trend?
• Trends in themselves are the first of all indicators for change and allow the “try out” of the new, thus a kind of trial and error process. My criticism is less concerned with “bio” than with the people. Nutritional styles are completely adapted without any reflection, because the peer group is just doing so or it’s just a temporary trend. In principle, I welcome every kind of discussion on nutrition and give each individual his personal fit.

• They are often said to be the “little things”. What would you like to recommend to other people, to do good for the environment with little effort? What do you particularly care about?
• We live in times when many people feel powerless and turn to the big food chains. Since we eat several times a day, we decide each day not only about our satiety, but also about the way in which food is produced, processed, traded and cooked. This has a great social relevance and in these small decisions lies a bigger power. A joy and happiness happens when you can make this “Genuss” decision by choosing good simple food.

The team from Landpack says thanks for the conversation!