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Fresh Fruit And Vegetables
The UK fresh fruit and vegetable market generated household spending of £7.49bn in 2001. Value sales increased by just 1.1% at current prices in 2001, due mainly to limited growth in the fresh vegetables sector. In volume consumption terms, the fresh vegetables sector has witnessed a period of long-term decline, but consumption of fresh fruit has increased recently.
Fresh vegetables formed the largest market sector in 2001, but the sector which has shown the strongest growth over the past 5 years has been fresh fruit. While processed foods are becoming more popular, fresh produce still accounts for over 60% of the value of all fruit and vegetable sales. Value sales growth at current prices in both the fresh fruit and vegetables sectors was modest in 2001.
Fresh fruit is increasingly positioning itself as a healthy snack or light meal alternative. Fresh fruit sales increased by 1.7% in 2001, with preprepared, peeled and sliced mixes and fruit-based snack products boosting sales. Bananas and apples are still the most popular fruits.
The fresh vegetables sector divides into three main subsectors: fresh potatoes, fresh green vegetables and other fresh vegetables. The fresh green vegetables sector is the most bouyant subsector with increasing sales value by 1.6% in 2001. New product developments (NPD), led by more prepacked and prewashed salad varieties, have helped sales to grow. The fresh potato market is in decline as it faces growing competition from processed potatoes and alternative foods, such as rice and pasta. In 2001, value sales of fresh potatoes fell by 1.1%. The other fresh vegetables sector, which includes core products such as carrots, recorded growth of 1.3% in 2001 at current prices, again led by prepacked ready-to-cook and stir-fry varieties.
UK growers supply over 70% of the UK's fresh vegetables demand (excluding potatoes) and 90% of the fresh potato supplies to the home market. However, the number of vegetable growers is falling, due partly to industry consolidation and partly to a reduction in the land given over to vegetables. The overwhelming majority of UK fruit supplies (an estimated 90%) come from imports, and most of the leading fruit companies are global concerns sourcing supplies from numerous countries.
The market trends of the past few years are likely to continue over the next few years. The overwhelming consumer demand is for convenience, and processed foods will be the main beneficiaries of this demand.
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