JDE Professional Belgium’s Post

A Day at the Market: A Quiet Lesson on Value Last weekend, I decided to tag along with my mother to the bustling local vegetable market. The air was filled with chatter, the aroma of fresh produce, and the occasional call from vendors praising their goods. While my mother immersed herself in selecting the freshest vegetables, I stood back, taking in the lively scene around me. What caught my attention wasn’t just the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables—it was the bargaining. One by one, customers approached the vendors, haggling over every rupee. “Can’t you give it for ₹30 instead of ₹35?” “Come on, bhaiya, reduce it a little more!” And these weren’t unreasonable people—they were like you and me. What struck me was the vigor with which they negotiated. It felt almost like a battle, as if saving ₹5 was a badge of honor. But here’s the irony. Later that day, we went to a café. Without a second thought, people around us paid ₹300 for a sandwich or ₹200 for a latte. No questions asked. No bargaining. No hesitation. Why do we fight tooth and nail over a few rupees with farmers and vendors who toil in the sun, growing and delivering the food that sustains us? Yet, we’re so willing to pay premium prices at fast food chains, cafés, and restaurants—businesses that thrive on large margins and marketing. This realization hit me hard. Bargaining isn’t inherently bad; it’s part of our culture and habits. But sometimes, we forget to see the bigger picture. To the vendor, that extra ₹5 might help them buy a notebook for their child or a better meal for the day. It’s a small amount for us but a meaningful difference for them. I watched my mother hand over the money without bargaining. When I asked her why she didn’t, she smiled and said, “They’ve already done so much for us. A few rupees less won’t change our lives, but it will for them.” Her words stayed with me. The next time you visit a vegetable vendor or a farmer’s stall, remember this story. Let’s start valuing the efforts of those who work tirelessly to feed us. Perhaps the change we need in the world begins with kindness, one small act at a time. What do you think? How can we bring fairness to how we value others’ work? Let me know your thoughts. #SupportFarmers #FairnessFirst #KindnessMatters #SupportLocalVendors #FoodForThought #ValueEffort

These techniques can elevate your coffee game. Try them out and let us know your favorite! For more tips and gear reviews, visit Coffee Rank iQ. #CoffeeLovers #BrewingTips #EspressoMachineOfTheMonth #coffeerankiq #Coffee News #Espressostory #coffeerankiqreviews

Where do you source authentically Italian ingredients? 🇮🇹🍕 👉 Option 1: Charter a jet and send an army of personal shoppers to the Old Country to buy premium ingredients from old Italian farmers at little markets scattered throughout the countryside. The downside: All the taxes and paperwork needed to get your food through customs. There’s also the cost of jet fuel, the salaries of all your shoppers, finding a way to refrigerate everything…  👉 Option 2: Buy your ingredients fresh from Angie’s, whose vendors use Old World traditions and recipes to offer you premium ingredients at a fraction of the price! #ingredients #b2bsales #foodandbeverage #distributor

Top-quality #specialty coffee (SCA 84+) can be quite expensive for consumers, yet the producers only earn about 5-10% of that amount. While some costs along the journey from farm to cup are unavoidable, others can be minimized. That's what we're doing—reducing costs wherever possible to ensure we pay producers fairly while keeping our coffee affordable for you. Our mission-driven, socially responsible partners are key to making this happen. We believe this approach benefits everyone: the more people enjoy quality #coffee, the more support we can give to the producing communities. #SavoraCafé #JoinTheJourney #TogetherForBetter #MissionDrivenCoffee

Good morning. May your day be as satisfying as your first sip of coffee. #BehavioralHealth #MedicalBilling #RevenueCycleManagement #HealthcareBilling #MentalHealthServices #HealthcareFinance #BillingSolutions #HealthTech #MedicalPracticeManagement #HealthcareConsulting #MentalHealthBilling #BillingExperts #HealthcareRevenue #PracticeManagement #BehavioralHealthBilling #coffee #morning

🍅 What hurdles do you face when sourcing local ingredients? Every 👨🍳chef has a unique story that can contribute to our collective wisdom! Share your experiences, whether they involve finding the right vendors or managing costs💰, and let’s collaborate on solutions that benefit our entire community. Together, we can make local sourcing easier and more accessible for everyone! 🌿💚 For additional insights and resources, check this out: https://bit.ly/3B7tuaw. #CulinaryCommunity #SupportLocal #FoodChallenges #LocalSourcing #LocalIngredients #FoodieSupport #KitchenSupport

Simple tips, but absolutely key: #coffee

I genuinely despair when I see headlines like the one below in the MSM as it does nothing but stir up tensions and push the narrative that we as consumers here in Northern Ireland have been ‘short-changed’ as a result, not of #Brexit, but wholly as a result of the #WindsorFramework #NIProtocol. Some of the comments I have read online around this article has confirmed to me just that. DESPITE what this headline WILL ‘imply’ to ‘readers’ - and it’s clear to me that many have not read beyond the headline before making their judgement HERE is a DIRECT QUOTE from the article. “”The Irish News approached Tesco and asked whether post-Brexit difficulties were a factor in its decision, a spokesperson said “our principal reason for changing supplier is about reducing waste”. “To suggest anything else would be misleading,” he added.”” Another quote from the article? “Sandwiches made by both Scribbles and Deli Lites, which is based in Warrenpoint, are also available in Tesco stores in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.” Why not CELEBRATE the fact that two of Northern Ireland’s top food producers in Deli Lites Ireland and AROUND NOON. have benefited from the decision taken by Tescos to stock more locally-sourced options? To finish, it’s worth highlighting that the #NorthernIrelandRetailMovementScheme which was introduced under the #WindsorFramework and has been in place since October last year (having replaced STAMNI) ‘ensures’ that any goods, including consumer ‘to-go’ products such as sandwiches 🥪 produced in Great Britain CAN be sold on shelves here in Northern Ireland (under the #NotForEU labelling). The #UKInternalMarketScheme arrangements being introduced at the end of this month will also remove the requirement to complete #ImportDeclarations, including #SupplementaryDeclarations on #NotAtRisk movements. But sure why would the media let facts get in the way of hyperbole? 🤔 It seems that good news stories about the environment and local business success don’t get as many ‘clicks’ 🤷🏻

https://ow.ly/XhQb50Rq8jc Have you noticed the changes yet? Now, I feel more appreciative of those #restaurants that have not raised the price (yet). #Inflation #MinimumWages #Pay #Wages #HR #HRM #Restaurant #FoodBiz #Retail #Food #Sustainable #Economy