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Company: Fruit Logistica |
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Contact: Wolfgang Rogall |
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Contact Address: Messe Berlin GmbH, Press and Public Relations, Messedamm 22, D-14055 Berlin, Germany |
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Contact Phone: +49(0)30/3038 2218 |
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Contact Fax: +49(0)30/3038 2287 |
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Contact Email: rogall@messe-berlin.de |
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Date: October 5, 2005 |
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| Berlin, GERMANY - Fresh fruit and vegetables
are more popular than ever with consumers. Fresh produce is regarded as
the most important constituent of a healthy diet because its consumption
promotes personal well-being and fitness, strengthens the immune system,
the heart and circulation, as well as helping to prevent cancer. Issues
which are the subject of public debate, such as genetically modified foods
and the use of pesticides, have given a significant boost to organic produce,
especially fruit and vegetables. This has been accompanied in recent years
by changes in consumers’ eating habits. As families have become smaller,
and with the increase in the numbers of single-person households, as well
as the growing popularity of eating out, so convenience products such as
ready-made salads and fruit salads have captured an increasing share of
the market. It is against this background that FRUIT LOGISTICA has acquired growing significance for those exhibitors from the international fruit trade who offer organic or convenience products in their fresh produce ranges. These two trends in eating habits have featured more strongly in the displays at the International Trade Fair for Fruit and Vegetable Marketing in recent years. At this year’s fair organic produce accounted for about 20 per cent of the exhibits in the produce segment, with convenience products accounting for 13 per cent, and the indications are that they will record further increases at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2006 (2 – 4 Feb.). The London-based marketing and consultancy organisation Organic Monitor estimates that worldwide sales of organic products rose by between five and seven per cent in 2004. In 2003 this amounted to a value of some 25 billion US dollars, rising to around 26.5 billion dollars in 2004. Currently the fastest growth in this sector is taking place in North America, while Europe is the largest single market after the USA, where Germany is the leading nation with sales amounting to 3.1 billion euros. According to a market analysis by GfK (Nuremberg), despite the growing popularity of convenience products, fresh fruit and vegetables continues to lead the field. A study that was carried out by BBE-Unternehmensberatung, Cologne, also confirms the increasing use of raw fruit and vegetables in German households in recent years. Younger households in particular are buying and consuming larger amounts of ready-made salads, mainly because of the savings in time and effort. Sales of kitchen-ready, packaged salads in 1985 amounted to just 15,000 tonnes, compared with 60,000 tonnes in 2002. Over the next few years it is estimated that this market could reach a figure of just under 900,000 tonnes. BBE believes that the market for convenience foods in Germany offers good to very good growth prospects. By 2015 consumers with a particular bias towards convenience foods will account for more than 50 per cent of the entire market. Fresh Produce Forum at the start of FRUIT LOGISTICA The 25th Fresh Produce Forum will be inviting international experts to exchange information on the subject of “Fresh cut - Convenience brings added value!” on 1 February. The new trend in “fresh cut” products may satisfy consumer demands for convenience, but does it result in higher profits? The keynote speaker Larry Kern, CEO, Ready Pac, Inc., USA, together with international experts, will look at the latest trends in the fresh cut sector and will analyse the market opportunities. |
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