prepared salad

The chief executive of Premium Fresh Network, which began trading on 1 January, says he sees excellent prospects to grow the market for fresh convenience in Germany.

Speaking from the company's headquarters in Möckmühl, north of Stuttgart, after its official inauguration, Friedhelm Balmes insisted the German retail market for fresh convenience products offered 'enormous growth potential' because of social and demographic changes.

The German fresh convenience market is reportedly worth around €700m per year at present, and Premium Fresh Network is aiming to corner part of that market by supplying short shelf-life produce to customers in the supermarket, cash and carry, foodservice and catering arenas.

It has reportedly already signed an agreement to distribute products on behalf of Gartenfrisch Jung, a supplier based in the nearby town of Jagsthausen.