shoppers, Greenvale explored 2018 food trends alongside chang- es in grocery shopping and eating habits. The aim was to discover just how potatoes may play a role in these new culinary times and remain on trend. Ms Mattock continued: “As a business we want to ensure that we are able to react and respond to changing times. We want potatoes to succeed for all of our customers whilst delivering the needs of the modern consumer.”
Consumer trends Greenvale’s research supported many well-documented trends, with meat free products, health and in-home food technology all piquing the interest of UK shop- pers. Fresh baking potatoes were
the clear winner in 2018 – with 10% of shoppers claiming to have been eating more over the past 12 months. This statistic is fi rmly supported by Kantar data which shows 6% year-on-year volume growth for the category.
Of 15 new food trends predict-
ed to grow this year, the revival of hasselback potatoes and loaded potato wedges scored well, coming in at positions second and fourth respectively with respondents.
Greenvale’s inaugural report looks at the year ahead Potatoes ‘dig in’ against sweet invader
After a two decade decline in vol- ume sales and increasing rivalry from its sweet imported counter- part, it appears things are on the up for the humble spud. Volume sales of standard fresh potatoes have increased by 0.5% over the past year and 3% over the last four years. Meanwhile, sales of imported sweet potatoes appear to be out of favour, falling for the fi rst time last year. Fresh sweet potato volume sales were increasing by 40% year-
on-year at their peak in 2015. But Kantar Worldpanel fi gures re- veal that they fell by 5% in 2018 to £74m – making up just 5% of volume in the potato market. Research carried out by the Ag- riculture and Horticulture Devel- opment Board indicates the shift in sales is due to consumer needs and attitudes. Standard potatoes win on versatility, ease of prepa- ration and keeping you fuller for longer, it says. AHDB senior retail insight an-
alyst Kim Malley said: “Higher perceptions in terms of versatility and ease, coupled with lower pric- es may indicate why we are seeing a rise in standard potatoes sales.” The research results provide valuable advancement opportu- nities for the potato market to ex- pand its ranges of ready prepared and ready made products. The need for consumer convenience is growing frozen and chilled rang- es in both the sweet and standard potato markets.
Burgess family invests in future of Produce World
The Burgess family has bought out the minority shareholders in Produce World – and now holds all the shares in the company. The family has held a major- ity of shares in the Cambridge- shire-based potato and vegeta- ble grower for a number of years. But a signifi cant minority were held by other shareholders who received shares as a result of mergers and acquisitions. Produce World chairman and
Back to their roots: William, Andrew and Jason Burgess
chief executive William Burgess said: “We have been looking for a way to reward our minority shareholders for some time, and we believe the time is right. “Produce World was founded as a family business and going forward that is the way we want it to be. Jason, Andrew and I are now fully involved in the day- to-day running of the business
and we are currently working on plans to bring the next genera- tion into the company. “From our point of view, we are more confi dent than ever about the future of Produce World. We are a business that grows and packs organic and conven- tional potatoes and vegetables, with farming at the heart of everything we do. The business has gone back to its roots.” The holding company Pro-
duce World Investments is now completely owned by the Bur- gess family. Produce World re- cently completed the sales of its redundant site at Swinderby, Lin- colnshire, which will be used to build 120 homes.
The company now has two di-
visions: RB Organics and Bur- gess Farm Produce for the con- ventional sector.
APRIL 2019 • ANGLIA FARMER 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
