Fresh-cut

Sales of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables in Spain increased by 6.5 per cent between January and October 2009 to 52,633 tonnes compared with the same period a year earlier, illustrating the rapid progress that the category is making in the market.

According to Spanish fresh-cut association Afhorla, vegetables, which accounted for 6.3 per cent or 51,730 tonnes of this total, are the most developed area of the category in the country.

In a statement, the group said that it had noted a 9 per cent rise in sales to the retail sector during the period, while sales to foodservice operators had fallen by 3.1 per cent.

Spain’s fresh-cut has a total annual sales value estimated at over €200m. Some 95 per cent of this business is said to correspond to members of Afhorla.