Fresh-cut fruit and vegetables ales enjoyed a boom through the opening eight months of 2011, according to new data released by Symphoni Iri and reported by Efeagro.
Sales of fresh-cut produce climbed 3 per cent year-on-year in volume terms to 54,600 tonnes through the January-August period. In 2010, sales for the full-year came in at 70,600 tonnes, an increase of 6 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Between January and August 2011, the value of the fresh-cut market climbed to €303.8m, 5.5 per cent up on the same period of 2010, when the market was valued at €287.8m.
Salads performed particularly well, with a total volume of 31,000 tonnes sold through the eight month period, up 2.5 per cent on 2010, with value hitting €172.8m.
??Fresh-cut fruit sales showed a huge increase during January-August, climbing from 73 tonnes to 963 tonnes, with value rising to €4.5m.
Polish supermarket chain Piotr I Pawel has today (1 December) become the first in the country to launch a new Disney-themed healthy snack concept for children.
The concept has been developed by Dutch fresh produce company Van Rijn Group, in cooperation with the Walt Disney Company, while distribution is handled by Langfruit BV, located in Venlo.
The range features Cars 2 and Disney Princess characters, and includes products such as tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers in ‘Veggie Shakers’, soon to be followed by a fruit equivalent.
“Our goal with these products is to provide healthy snacks for kids,” the Disney report states. “There is a problem in the world with obesity and overeating by children. By providing healthy food for the children we are playing a role in the fight against obesity and weight gain.”
In the UK, the British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA) has revealed that it has secured just under €140,000 in co-funding from the EU as part of the European Commission’s support for the promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables following the E coli crisis.
According to the BLSA, the funding will contribute to a three-year promotional and marketing campaign driving home the benefits of leafy salads as part of a healthy diet to consumers, Farming UK reported.
A total of €139,728 will be provided by the EU, broken down into yearly chunks of just over €46,000, as part of an overall budget of €279,455 for the BLSA – which was the only UK bid to successfully secure funding.
“Over 90 per cent of the UK claim for compensation from the EU for salad businesses hit by the E coli crisis was from leafy salad growers,” said Jane Dyas, BLSA’s company secretary. “This match funding will now allow us to deliver an effective three-year integrated campaign to communicate positive messages around the taste, health, versatility and provenance that leafy salads offer and ultimately have a positive effect on consumer purchasing behaviour.”
In the UK, retailer Morrisons is reportedly taking the hassle out of Hass avocados by introducing a ready peeled and pre-packaged product.
According to the Daily Mail, the group has developed specialist technology that peels, de-stones and packs the fruit in its own transparent vacuum-packed pouch, allowing consumers accurately judge ripeness.
The Peruvian avocados will be on sale for £5 (€5.85) as part of a special cocktail kit consisting of four ripe avocado halves and a pot of prawns.
“The technology uses non-thermal food processing to improve the shelf-life,” said Neil Nugent, Morrisons chef and head of innovation. “Shoppers can now guarantee they will only serve a perfectly ripe avocado.”
New figures released by industry analyst IGD predict that the UK’s grocery convenience sector is set to grow to £42.2bn (€49.3bn) over the next five years.
According to figures released at the group’s Convenience Retail Conference, the sector will increase in value by more than a quarter in the run up to 2016, up from its current value of £33.6bn (€39.2bn).
Similarly, convenience’s share of the overall food and grocery market is expected to increase to 22.9 per cent by 2016, compared with the figure of 21.4 per cent by the end of this year.
IGD ShopperTrack research found that 50 per cent of shoppers would use shops closer to them if fuel prices continue to rise, 46 per cent of convenience store shoppers consider proximity a key factor when choosing a store, and convenience store shoppers use the format on average three times a week.
“The convenience sector is doing well in challenging conditions and outperforming the wider grocery market,” said Nick Everitt, director of retail insight at IGD.
“The convenience market’s success is down to a number of factors, including an ability to adapt the changing demands of the UK population,” he added. “Shoppers are, for example, increasingly favouring a ‘little and often’ approach, and convenience operators are responding by offering a wider range of product choices, including more fresh and chilled foods, such as fruit and vegetables.
“Convenience stores are also reaping the benefits of people cutting down on their car usage due to high petrol prices and so preferring to shop locally.”
Just a few months after launching Lil Snappers, a premium line of 3lb bags made specifically for kid-sized apples and pears, Stemilt Growers is expanding the product line with new varieties, organic availability, and a durable display-shipper.
US-based Stemilt recently added two varieties – Braeburn and Fuji apples – to its line of conventionally grown Lil Snappers and also introduced Lil Snappers under its Artisan Organics label.
The Lil Snappers product line now includes six conventional apple varieties, one conventional pear variety, and five organic apple varieties. The new organic varieties available are: Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Piñata, and Pink Lady.
“The Lil Snappers line has been a great addition for Stemilt,” said Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl. “The kid-friendly sizes and flavours and convenient grab-n-go package make it appealing to today’s busy parents. We’ve had numerous calls and emails from people wondering where to find Lil Snappers in their market. It’s a perfect in-and-out item to bring excitement to the produce department this winter and spring.”
In addition to expanding the Lil Snappers line, Stemilt will soon begin shipping these bags in a new display-shipper, the group revealed, with the carton a shorter version of a standard display ready carton and is great for building displays at retail. The pre-printed box features sharp graphics that make the product stand out in the produce department.
“The new carton is also very durable, which will aid in effectively transporting the box from our facilities all the way to the produce department floor,” said Pepperl.
Shelf-life extension specialist Maxwell Chase Technologies has announced the launch of its new ‘Fruit Pop’ pouches, absorbent pouches which are ideal for packing slices of fresh-cut pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon and Honeydew melon and extending shelf-life by over 10 days.
Produced with food-safe absorbent technology, the pouches allow processors to pack ripe and sweet-tasting fruit, while they are consumer-friendly being easy to open, tamper evident and avoiding mess, the group said.
“Customers have been asking for a way to pack single serve fresh-cut fruit portions with extended shelf-life and this is the perfect cost-effective packaging,” said Tom Gautreaux, national sales director at Maxwell.
The new Fruit Pop pouches are ideal for target markets such as kid’s snacks, school lunches and convenience stores, the group added.
Freshconex 2012, Europe’s only international meeting place for the fresh produce convenience sector, takes place in Berlin from 8-10 February 2012 and offers a comprehensive overview of the products and services in this dynamic growth market.
Fully integrated into the trade fair programme, the Freshconex Business Forum is a first-class information and discussion platform focusing on current industry trends. With sessions scheduled on all three days of the event, the forum offers excellent opportunities to share in-depth information and exchange ideas with guest speakers and international industry representatives.
‘New opportunities in marketing for fresh produce convenience’ is the key theme on the first day of the trade fair (8 February). In a series of half-hour presentations, international industry representatives focus on the market opportunities resulting from special marketing strategies in the fresh convenience sector.
In many European countries, including the UK, Italy and the Netherlands, fresh convenience products have become integrated into daily eating habits. In his presentation, Tony Walsh, category manager at Florette, talks about which markets still offer potential for the development of fresh produce convenience fresh products (New markets for fresh produce convenience products).
The Nordic markets are characterised by specific demands from fresh convenience product suppliers. International experts discuss what buyers in these countries expect and what consumers want (Market solutions for fresh produce convenience in Nordic markets).
Private label products play an important role for European food retailers. Peter Hostens, Managing Director at UNIVEG, shows how sales can be increased through the development of private label brands in the convenience category (Opportunities for developing the convenience category at retail).
A growing number of fresh convenience brands are being sold through non-traditional sales channels. In his presentation, Hans Liekens, out-of-home business development director at Chiquita Brands International, talks about the size of the potential gains in these new markets, the success stories taking place at the traditional retail level as a result of these new opportunities, and how consumers perceive and respond to the new purchasing options (Beyond retail: building your brand for a total consumer experience).
Other key topics at the Freshconex 2012 Business Forum include ‘Food Safety’ on 9 February and ‘Technology and new product development’ on 10 February.
The Freshconex Business Forum is staged in Hall 7.2b, and it is fully integrated into the exhibition area and included in the Freshconex admission price.
Dole Food Company has announced that it has made an equity investment in Healthy Foods, the producer of the yonanas frozen treat maker.
Dole and Healthy Foods have joined forces to increase consumption of fruit by expanding the yonanas product line and its distribution in retail, commercial and food service outlets around the world.
The yonanas frozen treat maker employs proprietary technology to transform frozen bananas and other frozen fruit into a dessert that looks and tastes like an indulgent soft-serve ice cream – but with all the nutrition of fresh fruit, no additives, and with as little as 100 calories per serving.
The collaboration with Dole, the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fruits and vegetables, will help Healthy Foods increase retail distribution of the yonanas treat maker as well as accelerate the development of a new line of commercial yonanas products for restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels and other venues.
The companies also plan to co-brand their respective products, with the yonanas device and new packaging, which is sold at major retailers including Target, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond, K-mart and Amazon, now co-branded Dole-yonanas.
“We’re excited to align with a Fortune 500 company that shares our vision of promoting nutrition,” said Winston Breeden, CEO of Healthy Foods. “Dole’s powerful brand and global reach will undoubtedly accelerate our market penetration around the world. This new venture will also help us launch our commercial division of yonanas products in a shorter timeframe.”
David Murdock, Dole’s Chairman, confirmed that the innovative team at Healthy Foods would provide Dole with a unique business platform for future growth. “Healthy Foods and the proprietary yonanas technology will help drive our fresh and frozen fruit businesses, while encouraging people to increase their fruit consumption and live healthier lives,” he noted.
Dole Food Company has announced the introduction of two new products, Fruit Smoothie Shakers and Frozen Fruit Single-serve Cups, which it has said will provide consumers with new, convenient ways to enjoy the taste of fresh fruit ‘right from the freezer’.
According to the group, the products – which contain frozen fruit and no artificial ingredients – can help US consumers balance their calorie intake and follow the 2010 dietary guidelines, which encourages greater produce consumption and a lower intake of sodium, saturated and trans fats and added sugars.
“Now more than ever consumers are looking for a variety of options that fit into a healthy diet,” said Paul Panza, marketing director at Dole Packaged Foods. “By developing frozen products like our Fruit Smoothie Shakers and Frozen Fruit Single-serve Cups, that are made with real fruit and all-natural ingredients, we can give consumers new and easy ways to add fruit to their diet – with the convenience and value they have come to expect from Dole.”
Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers are a real fruit and yoghurt smoothies to be eaten at home or on-the-go, combining healthy fruit and non-fat yoghurt with the added benefit of pre- and probiotics.
Made with frozen yoghurt beads and finely cut fruit, consumers simply remove from the freezer, add their favourite juice and shake for 30-45 seconds, with the product coming in strawberry, banana and mixed berry varieties.
Frozen Fruit Single-serve Cups, meanwhile, contain a full serving of fruit with no added sugars or preservatives and no cutting or rinsing required, and are available in blueberry, strawberry and pineapple flavour.
Dole noted that the cups utilise breakthrough, patent-pending technology to minimise texture loss during the defrosting process for a just-like-fresh appearance, taste and texture.
