Commercialization

Clock auction

All products are blocked, i.e. inspected and subdivided in uniform quality blocks. After cold storage the products are offered, together with similar products from other Flemish auctions, through a simultaneous clock auction to the total buyer's public. This means that every seller who is present in one of the Flemish auctions has the opportunity to buy a product from every auction. This system has been in use since 1982 and is unique in the world.

A few years ago the system was extended with a home buying system, enabling buyers to participate actively in the auction from their own offices; the home buying system is operated online, which helps to considerably reduce the phone costs for foreign buyers. Offers of the same product online, which helps to considerably reduce the phone costs for foreign buyers. Offers of the same product by different auctions are concentrated on the Hoogstraten clock.