Old glory for Prince de Bretagne

Fruit Logistica 2010: French marketer promoting a number of new products at this year's Berlin trade exhibition

Prince de Bretagne has displayed a new range of ‘old’ vegetables at this year's Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany.

The range includes vegetables that have, for one reason or another, been forgotten and are now rarely eaten.

The company launched four varieties: swede, parsnip, golden turnip and Jerusalem artichoke, in autumn last year and, according to the company’s Eléonore Faucher,  consumer reaction to the range has been very positive.

“A lot of people want to eat these now,” she says. “We are seeing a general trend towards old varieties. We saw this before with old tomato varieties, such as the beef heart tomato."

"These older vegetables are increasing in availability in the supermarkets, and consumers are happy about this. They are sold both as a mixed bag of four and separately.”

Prince de Bretagne is also working on its new Panier de Prince, a 2.5kg box filled with standard seasonal vegetables such as cauliflowers, broccoli, leeks, chicory and onions, depending on the season.

“With this product, people can be sure they are buying a seasonal product and don’t have to look all around the store,” says Ms Faucher.

“People are currently looking to purchase seasonal products, but most people do not have the necessary knowledge to do so with ease, so we are helping them. This product has never been available in the supermarkets before. We have launched it in both conventional and organic.”

According to Ms Faucher, Prince de Bretagne plans to push forward with the development of this product in 2010.

“We have also launched the open bag initiative for our Romanesco,” adds Ms Faucher. “This enables us to supply consumers with extra information. Many people are unfamiliar with this vegetable and do not know how to cook it, so we think this initiative will be useful.”