European apple volumes forecast flat for 2022-23 but pears set for big rise
The outlook for European apple and pear production for 2022 is hopeful, with pear volumes set to rise by 20 percent and apple volumes expected to increase by 1 percent compared to last year. The figures were released on August 4 at the Prognosfruit 2022 conference in Belgrade, Serbia. It was the first in-person Prognosfruit event after […]
In an effort to trim food waste, Waitrose cuts out ‘best before’ dates
Waitrose is one of the many retailers in UK heeding the call to prevent food waste, and to that end, it is planning to remove “best before” dates on 500 of its products including fresh fruits and vegetables starting in September. The hope is that consumers won’t be so quick to toss away perfectly good […]
Shopping at Aldi is still the least expensive in the UK and £25 cheaper than this retailer
How much less expensive is a shop at discounters Aldi and Lidl than their retail rivals in the UK grocery market? A lot. According to another round of data from Which?, the two led the way again on the cheapest shop amongst all supermarket chains in the UK, which the average shop costing £74.23 and […]
Fresh produce finding its place more frequently on pizza
Platforms. Everyone in menu research and development thinks about platforms for serving a wide variety of menu items. Platforms can be breads, tortillas, biscuits, baked potatoes or pizza crusts, and each of these platforms is a perfect perch for fresh produce. Pizza especially. Crispy or doughy crust, a savory sauce, melted cheese, and a blank […]
Blistering heat scorching fruits and vegetables across UK
The UK heatwave has caused fruit and vegetables to die on the vine as growers fear the drought and further hot temperatures could ruin harvests this year. Fruit and vegetable suppliers have been counting their losses after record temperatures in July caused crops to fail, according to a report by The Guardian. “It’s not just fruit […]
Is variety specification crucial for category growth in foodservice?
I recently attended two events where speakers focused on the importance of variety-specific traits in produce that have an impact on consumer preference and liking. Some traits focus on visual aspects like size, shape or color, while others focus on the eating experience, including aroma, taste and texture. At each event, speakers asked the audience […]
Record heat leads to severe drought conditions in UK, Europe
As another heatwave hits the European continent, drought conditions and water scarcity in several regions are reducing crop yield and affecting energy production. A staggering portion of Europe is currently exposed to warning (44% of EU+UK) and alert (9% of EU+UK) drought levels, associated with soil moisture deficit in combination with vegetation stress, according to […]
Research Perspective and Analysis: E-Commerce: Friend and foe
At the onset of the pandemic, grocery e-commerce jumped forward about five years on its natural growth trajectory. It was the full growth trifecta: more people, more trips and greater spending online. Fresh produce partook, but not to the same extent as center store grocery — a gap that still exists. Across all food and […]
