Tag Archives: marketing

Lidl targets children with veg range

Discount retailer Lidl has launched a new range of fun sized vegetables specifically targeted at children. The new trial has been launched following the success of the supermarket’s existing range of fruit and veg aimed at kids.

The new products include Mini Broccoli Trees; Cauliflower Clouds; Unicorn Carrots and mini Romanesco marketed at Romanesaurus Rex. Lidl claims it is the ‘the first British supermarket to introduce a range of fresh fruit and vegetables that are specifically targeted towards children, helping families with the ongoing challenge of inspiring younger generations to eat their greens and maintain a healthy lifestyle.’

Emma Byrne, Lidl’s Head of Fresh Produce, commented, “At Lidl we’re always looking at new and innovative ways to make parent’s lives a little easier. Following the success of our fun sized fruit and veg range, we made the decision to take the additional step of introducing new product names and designs that are geared towards getting kids to eat quality, healthier food.”

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Farmer confidence higher for next year

A new survey by the NFU has revealed an increase in farmer confidence in the dairy and livestock sectors over the last year, but confidence has fallen in the horticulture and poultry sectors. The NFU says there are serious concerns about labour shortages in the future and increase of the National Living Wage.

Members told the NFU, as part of its seventh annual farmer confidence survey, they anticipated positive effects on their business from the consumption levels of British produce (58%) and output prices (46%). However, farmers feel that input prices will have the most widespread negative impact for the coming year (74% negative), followed by regulation and legislation (53% negative).

Mr Raymond commented: “The NFU has made it clear that for farming to have a profitable and productive future we need reassurance on key issues resulting from Brexit; such as access to a competent and reliable workforce and the best possible access to the Single Market.

“British farming is the bedrock of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector – food and drink. The sector is worth £108 billion to the nation’s economy and employs some 3.9 million people. We urge Government, retailers and the public to back British farming so we can continue to produce high quality produce for the nation.”

The post Farmer confidence higher for next year appeared first on Hort News on 21 December 2016.

HTA to continue ‘Plant of the Moment’ for 2017

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced that its successful ‘Plant of the Moment’ campaign will continue through 2017.

Launched at the start of last year, the consumer campaign was designed to run for two years from January 2016 to December 2017. Month by month this promotional plant calendar highlights planting ideas as well as plants at their best to help customers create gardens that are full of colour and interest throughout the year.

The campaign includes a calendar of themes, such as creating a winter wonderland and ‘berried’ treasure, which was designed in collaboration with consultant and journalist Adam Pasco and agreed with UK growers and retailers.

For 2017 the campaign begins with a winter wonderland theme including the top four plants for producing winter flowers: Witch Hazel (Hamamelis varieties); Oregon Grape (Mahonia varieties); Winter Flowering Viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense) and Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger).

Photo Caption: Witch hazel is one of the highlighted plants for January

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Berry sales rise as bumper harvest looms

Data from Kantar Worldpanel shows that berry sales in the UK now account for a fifth of total fruit consumption making them more popular than apples and bananas as the popularity of juices and smoothies shows no signs of slowing down.

Strawberries are the most popular soft fruit, with sales last year valued at £564,382 million. They were followed by blueberries (£282,962m) and raspberries (£220,336m). Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, said, “Berries used to be a luxury item, but now they are a delicious staple, consumed as part of a healthy diet for many people. The sales figures reveal a robust and expanding soft fruit category that is meeting growing consumer demand.”

The figures came as British Summer Fruits predicted a record breaking strawberry harvest this year thanks to ideal spring growing conditions. Up to 74,000 tonnes of the fruit is predicted to be produced over the coming summer. The top retail varieties are Malling Centenary; Elsanta; Sonata; Sweet Eve; Driscoll’s Jubilee; Ava Rosa; Red Glory; and Capri.

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NFU plans to increase fruit and veg. consumption

Defra Secretary has helped unveil plans for the autumn by the NFU and others to boost the consumption of home-grown produce, including fruit and veg, as part of the government’s ‘Year of British Food’.

The NFU, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Red Tractor and Love British Food are uniting to coordinate a calendar of events starts with the NFU’s Back British Farming day in September, followed by an autumn of driving consumer awareness of quality, assured British food. This activity includes Red Tractor Week, British Food Fortnight, a 12-week Red Tractor on-pack promotion across retailers and foodservice operators, supporting TV and in-store advertising campaigns.

Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss said, “I’m delighted to see our world-leading food and farming industry celebrating British food and drink to help grow our food industry further. With 3.8 million people employed in the food chain we know it is vital for our economic future we make British food and farming all it can be and I am determined to work closely with the farming industry to harness innovation and technology, develop new skills and promote our rich food heritage.”

NFU Deputy President Minette Batters added, “I’m pleased to see our farming organisations collaborating and coming together to champion great British food and the thousands of farmers and growers who produce it every day of the year. I hope this plan of action will help showcase British food which, as we know, is the best in the world.”

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BerryWorld launches buckets of berries

Fruit marketing group BerryWorld has launched a new branded multi-pack of soft fruit aimed at time poor convenience shoppers.

BerryWorld Berry Buckets contain two packs each of blueberries and raspberries which have been hand-picked when the fruit is at its best. Packed into four convenient, re-sealable 80g buckets, they are said to be perfect for including in lunchboxes and eating on the go.

Online supermarket Ocado, which is selling a pack of four buckets for £4.99, says that, ‘one 80g bucket counts towards one of an adults recommended 5 a day. They also make a great addition to desserts and salads.’

A spokesperson for BerryWorld said: “These delicious berries are juicy, sweet and bursting with goodness, perfect for including in lunchboxes or eating on the go.”

Photo Credit: Ocado

The post BerryWorld launches buckets of berries appeared first on Hort News on 5 May 2016.

Riverford rebrands

Leading organic producer and box supplier Riverford has unveiled a new logo and branding which it says underlines its passion and expertise in vegetables.

The new look, which will be found across the company and its franchisees on boxes, as well as delivery vans and the company’s website features colourful hand drawn vegetables and a black carrot silhouette. It is also using the tagline and social media hashtag ‘Live Life on the Veg.’. It worked with design agency Big Fish to achieve a look which would tell the Riverford story while engaging with customers.

Riverford’s Brand & Communications Manager, Vitha Powell explained, “We want to show the world we’re mad about – and experts in – veg.  We want to put our authority about veg back at the heart of our business and think this new look and refocusing on veg will help us reach as many like-minded people as possible.”

She added, “The carrot is a distinctive, memorable shape that helps us communicate who we are and what we do. We have also changed our name very slightly from Riverford Organic Farms to Riverford Organic Farmers, to celebrate the fact that we are an independent, personal business and farmers at heart.”

Photo Credit: Riverford Organic Farmers

The post Riverford rebrands appeared first on Hort News on 22 April 2016.

Not for profit berry company launched

In what is thought to be the first such project in the UK, a new not-for-profit soft fruit marketing agency has been established.

Berry Alliance is a Not for Profit (‘NFP’) company which has been set up to support growers throughout the world supply direct to retailers in the UK and for retailers to deal direct with growers. It aims to reduce costs for both suppliers and customers in the supply chain compared with traditional marketing companies.

The company has been founded by Pascal Simian and Steve Sadler who together have 40 years of combined experience in the produce sector. Pascal said, “After 18 months of careful research and refinement, we’ve honed a solution that’s mutually beneficial to all parties—Berry Alliance, a not for profit (NFP) company that supports growers throughout the world to supply direct to UK retailers, and for retailers to deal direct with growers.

“Unlike an importer, the contract to supply is between the grower and the retailer, not with Berry Alliance. As an NFP, Berry Alliance can’t make a profit. It does not own the fruit and all supply chain savings, which are significant, are passed on as better prices to the retailer and enhanced returns to the grower. The model is entirely transparent, with the progress of orders and every penny in the process accessible to both parties, at all times.”

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APS Salads acquires North Bank Growers

According to Dutch media, The Greenery has sold NorthBank Growers to APS Salads.

The move comes after Cornerways Nursery last year decided not to renew its marketing agreement with the Dutch group, instead signing five year deal with Thanet Earth to sell its produce. According to a spokesperson The Greenery, which has owned NorthBank Growers since 2012, is currently sourcing other local producers in the UK to serve the British market.

APS Salads is the largest tomato grower in the UK. In May last year they purchased the Wight Salads Group, bringing their total area to 106 hectare, of which 46 is modern glass.

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Irish potato growers urged to cut acreage

Potato growers in the Republic of Ireland have been urged to reduce their potato planting area for 2015 in order to improve prices.

Dr Denis Griffin of Teagasc commented, “Last year saw an oversupply of potatoes coming onto the market right across Europe, with prices falling accordingly. We continue to see a decline in potato consumption here in Ireland, so growers should err on the side of caution as they prepare for this year’s planting season. The reality is that potatoes remain a very expensive crop to grow, with costs before storage in the range €2,000/ac to €2,500/ac.”

He also urged growers to plant in the best conditions. “April 1 is the traditional target planting date in this country, but soils in many areas are still quite wet, particularly a couple of inches or so below surface level,” he said. “The preparation of a fine seedbed is critically important, where spuds are concerned.”

Teagasc hopes that its new variety Imagine could also improve margins, and has said that there is scope to increase the production of crops for chipping to replace imports from Europe.

“The fundamental bottom line is that growing potatoes as a commodity crop is no longer a feasible business option in this country,” concluded Dr Griffin. “Growers must develop a value added mentality.”

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