Fresh-cut Management

Spain: "Knowing the origin, you can guarantee the product's freshness and proximity"

Guzman Gastronomía has several lines of business open for the development of its daily activities, but these wouldn't succeed if it wasn't for the firm's strict demands and the qualifications of its employees. "Our salespeople have to study during their first few months in their positions," explains Daniel Criado, director of fresh product purchases at Cutting's & Guzman Gastronomía Foodservice. The fact is that they are dealing with a market in which their clients are real experts.

At present, its main activities are carried out in Spain, where the company has offices in practically all territories, and wherever they don't have one, they have suppliers chosen after careful market research. "It is also the case that customers request our products from their usual suppliers; in this way, we study the case and they end up becoming part of the Guzman Gastronomía team," said Criado. In any case, over the last year and a half, the company has started new businesses with other countries, both Asian and European, where it is gradually getting a foothold.

One of its most noteworthy services is the supply of ready-to-eat products. "When we make salads, fruit skewers, etc., we want to convey that they are like homemade products. We don't use additives or preservatives, and we can guarantee that the ingredients are chosen with love," comments Criado. So much so, that the cutting is done manually, thus creating the feeling of being a "homemade" salad.

Italy: La Linea Verde focuses on service content

We often read that vegetables and vegetarian or vegan eating habits are becoming increasingly popular. While it can be just a fad, it is also true that, if consumers are pleased, the trend can consolidate.This is the opinion of La Linea Verde, well-known in the fresh-cut and pre-cooked sectors thanks to.....

Not enough labor to harvest green onions in Northern Mexico

Labor problems in Mexico continue to be an issue for growers of green onions south of the border. “There’s the problem down in northern Mexico where there is still some shortage of labor,” says Steve Timsak of Church Brothers Farms in Salinas, Ca. “It was bad over the holidays and it’s getting a little.....

Edible solution doubles shelf life of fresh produce

“We’ve developed a way to leverage the parts of produce left behind on the farm to dramatically extend the shelf life of fresh produce,” says James Rogers with Apeel Sciences. “Our edible formulation slows down the rate that fruit and vegetables deteriorate helping them maintain a healthy state longer.”.....

Sweden: Post holiday health push boosts salad sales

After the (over)indulgence of the Christmas holidays, Fredrik Pettersson from Dole Fresh Cuts Sweden/Finland shared that it is a very good market for salad mixes and fresh cuts, with the consumer push to become extra healthy in the new year. There is always a bit of a dip in demand during October and.....

La Linea Verde keeps on growing

In line with the general recovery of the Italian market,La Linea Verde confirms positive trends for both itsDimmidiSìbrand and private labels.The company managed to maintain its leading position on the fresh-cut market and keeps on growing. The group expects to end 2016 with a turnover of €225 million.This.....

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Stationary fresh-cut vegetable sales

The value of fresh-cut vegetable sales in Italy between October 2015 and September 2016 was just below €766 million, i.e. +0.2% with respect to the previous year. This data resulted from an analysis carried out by FreshPlaza in cooperation withIRI, a leading company in the market information, analysis,.....

Half of the fresh-cut fruit is in plastic punnets

According to the new analysis carried out by FreshPlaza andIRI, a leading company in market information, analysis, business intelligence solutions and consultancy, the value of fresh-cut fruit sales increased by 20% in 12 months. This analysis compared data referring to October 2015-September 2016 with.....

Crazy marketing strategies led to lower margins

According toCOFPresident Francesco Barbieri, not everything is positive for the Italian fresh-cut sector, especially in the bagged salad segment. He feels we should not only look at the turnover from sales when looking to balance the books. "We should consider everything that led to this result. If we only.....

Competition from burgers, soups and advanced vegetable products

"In Italy, fresh-cut products were introduced 15 years ago and became very popular. We are the second consumers in Europe and the penetration rate is 80% against, for example, Germany with 30%. The segment generates a turnover of €800 million," explains Gianfranco D'Amico (in the photo), CEO for Bonduelle.....

Past five years positive for fresh-cut salad

According to a report drafted by the Fondosviluppo S.p.A., the Study and Research Department for Confcooperative, the Department for Development Policies, and the Office for Internationalisation and Market policies, the fresh-cut salad market performed very well in the past five years (2010-2015).Total.....

Bonduelle launches Filiera Garantita ® project

PHOTO REPORT "Quality is comprised of two factors. The first is the quality perceived - leaves that look good, sealed packets with appealing mixes. The second is food security, which is what consumers require when choosing a specific brand," explains Stefania Grazianetti, quality manager forBonduelle Italia.See photos.....

Agribologna: Fresh-cut fruit is growing, especially in retail shops

"All the fresh-cut branches are growing, more than we expected", Paolo Mariani, marketing manager ofConsorzio Agribologna, says."It seems that people have overcome the economic crisis", he adds.Agribologna staff at Macfrut. From left to right: Marco Guidi, Emilio Colombini, Monica Stepien, Paolo Mariani e.....

Brexit forces UK company to look further afield

On the 23rd of June the British went to the polls and voted leave the European Union. According to Anthony Pile, founder of Blue Skies, a UK company which has been exporting fresh cut fruit from Africa to Europe for the last 20 years, this was a big mistake."We have not left yet but we might as well have.....

La Linea Verde introduces fresh-cut superfood

La Linea Verdehas always been responsive to customer demands and driven by its willingness to innovate. This is why, in line with the current healthy food trend, it will presentDimmidiSì Kaleat Macfrut.Kale is a superfood with various nutritional properties and is very popular with US celebrities such as.....