All articles by FPJ Staff – Page 102
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Produce wars hotly fought as UK summer approaches
If anyone needs a reminder of the fresh produce price war taking place, Tesco left its customers in no doubt at my local
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Article
Industry debates as ash causes air standstill
It has been all eyes on the skies this week, as the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in Iceland continued to erupt and ash threw
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ArticleOne potato, two potato... Albert Bartlett builds on Re:fresh triumph
When Albert Bartlett scooped the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) Packer of the Year gong at Re:fresh 2009, judges praised the Scottish potato firm’s “innovative day-to-day business practices” and “environmental principles”. And in the last 12 months, the company has gone from strength to strength, with the consolidation of its recently constructed packhouse in Jersey, two new varieties due to be unveiled to the public this autumn and some high-profile TV advertising campaigns ensuring the firm’s Rooster potato brand is steadily becoming a household name. Laura Gould visited Bartlett’s main site in Airdrie to find out what makes the potato packer tick
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New ideas taking root as summer products appear
It is amazing just how fast any new ideas literally take root. Following my discovery of grow-your-own salads at Tesco in last
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ArticleThe packaging conundrum
Shrink-wrapped cucumbers, four-packs of apples and bagged bananas are just some of the fresh produce lines regularly hauled into the headlines as part of the ongoing debate on packaging. Suppliers have been quick to point out that packaging protects fresh produce as it moves through the supply chain, increasing shelf life and reducing waste. But just last month, the major food players committed to cutting the carbon footprint of packaging as part of the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment. Here, Anna Sbuttoni looks at what is next for fresh produce packaging
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ArticleSunshine falls on prepared produce sector at last
The burst of good weather this spring combined with a slight uplift in the economy has given the prepared fruit and vegetable sector a much-needed boost. Elizabeth O’Keefe finds the industry optimistic for an uplift in sales, with consumers reaching for convenience as summer nears
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Recovery: too strong a word for organics?
The organics industry must be scratching its head wondering where on earth it went wrong in the last 12 months.After a
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ArticleSouth African top-fruit industry holds its own through searing heat
The early market for pears in the EU has been a good start for the South African top-fruit season. The delays in shipping from Chile as a result of the two earthquakes at the end of February and start of March have provided a short-term supply gap, increasing market demand for South African top fruit in the UK market. Louise Brodie reports from South Africa
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ArticleFIFA World Cup boost for South African avocado campaign
South Africa plans to capitalise on the UK’s taste for avocados and is launching a number of promotional campaigns this year. Doris Lee Butterworth examines prospects for new arrivals and asks if the rise in Peruvian production is causing much concern
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ArticleSteady growth in exotics aisle as shopper interest on rise
The last three months have seen the exotics category enjoy relatively good volume growth, with many shoppers returning to the fold and certain lines enjoying a strong start to 2010. However, adverse weather in some growing regions could affect supplies over the next few months. Laura Gould reports
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Definitions become blurred as shopper choice expands
Fruit and vegetables still remain a flagship line in the multiples, but the definition of what is on sale has become blurred
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ArticleNisa-Today’s draws from Re:fresh boost
When Nisa-Today’s, one of the UK’s leading member-owned retailer organisations, won the QV Fresh Approach Convenience Retailer of the Year gong at last year’s Re:fresh Awards, the group had just set up a fresh produce team to refocus and revitalise its fruit and vegetable offer throughout the UK. Here, Elizabeth O’Keefe catches up with Nisa-Today’s business manager Nick Slater to find out how the company has progressed since winning the award
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ArticleJersey builds on reputation to maintain UK exports
Jersey Royal potatoes are well known as the jewel in the Jersey offer, but the island is home to a mix of vegetables, from cauliflower and courgettes to runner beans, leeks and sweetcorn. Anna Sbuttoni visited the island for its first regional report on the area to meet the major growers and exporters ahead of the start of their season
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Anecdotal evidence puts Plimsoll data in context
The data released by Plimsoll this week revealing that a large proportion of companies in the fresh produce sector are in rude
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First signs of spring in air as new lines make entrance
The popularity of easy peelers has led to clementines being given a number of makeovers, with Marks & Spencer offering a
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ArticleNZ top fruit hangs in balance
The UK is traditionally one of the strongest markets for New Zealand top fruit, but the weak sterling coupled with a smaller crop this season could mean a shift in the status quo. Doris Lee Butterworth speaks to leading producers and importers to gauge the situation
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Busy spring beckons despite unwelcome winter weather
The recent fraud alert remains a concern and extreme caution is recommended when dealing with new accounts, as we have
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Key business moves help Capespan navigate through new waters
When the Re:fresh judges selected Capespan as FPJ Importer of the Year for the second year in a row in 2009, it represented a real shot in the arm for the Sheerness-based firm. Laura Gould chats to managing director Ronan Lennon about the company’s achievements since scooping the gong last May and his views on the way the fresh produce landscape in the UK is shifting
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ArticleChilean quakes put shakes on turbulent grape sector
The grape industry has been dominated by information - and also by the lack of it - emanating from Chile in the wake of the country’s earthquakes this quarter. Disruptions in logistics, an unstable market and varying quality levels made for a challenging period. Alex Lawson reports