The question of whether French lettuce producers can reverse the decline in their exports to the UK and increase their presence in the processing sector comes down to price, according to Nick Smith, foodservice account manager at Planet Produce Ltd.
Smith told a seminar of French salad grower-exporters that the quality differential between UK and French product is eroding.
“French producers need to look at their own domestic market, and at Germany, and compare the returns to see whether the additional costs of serving the UK, with its stringent requirements, justify the benefits,” Smith warned.
“Exporters need to focus their attention on reducing wastage rather than trying the UK as an opportunistic market," he said.
“Some sectors of the UK market are prepared to pay a premium allowing some exports in the summer season. There is still some loyalty from caterers who will source French products over alternatives but the market place is changing and it will be interesting to see how long that loyalty will last,” Smith added.
The seminar was included in a two-day programme for French salad exporters, during which they visited various supermarkets and New Covent Garden market, before meeting the procurement team at Natures Way Foods.
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