For two months, Paris-based grocer Catherine Da Costa will reportedly test out a new way of selling fruit and vegetables using a delivery tricycle, according to French Fld.
Da Costa will offer ready to eat and prepared products, including raw vegetables, fruit salads, fresh-cut fruits, juices and smoothies, products that have recorded a sales increase of 10 per cent in the last two years.
The idea behind the scheme, according to Jean Sales, president of Interfel's accessibility arm, is to increase the value of fruit and vegetables in consumers' minds.
'Fruit and vegetables are often regarded as expensive, because they are worth little in the eyes of consumers,' he said. 'The tricycle is the opposite of the jumble sales – it is designed to shift people's thinking.'
According to Nicolas Perrin of the ministry of agriculture, the tricycle will be used as a means of promoting fruits and vegetables in the street.
'For the moment, it is a test, and the model needs to be refined,' he said. 'The logistical element is the most important thing. We aim to roll this out to other cities in France.'
Valérie Sené, Interfel's director of economics and marketing strategy, commented: 'The tricycle is a way to facilitate urban consumption, to win over consumers under 40 years old, who we have noted for some time have been eating less and less fresh fruit and vegetables.'
