All articles by FPJ Staff – Page 120
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Fingers crossed for the summer
Recent weeks seem to have given way to a multitude of predictions in the media - from forecasting a long, hot summer to a flu
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Media-touted bargains draw shoppers in
Potential customers can hardly miss the fruit and vegetable bargains that are being trumpeted across the media. However, there
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Convenience stores come knocking
As we are just three weeks away from our Re:fresh conference named ‘Beyond the Big Four’, it could not be more
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ArticleA rich heritage
Northern Ireland has rich and vibrant soils that produce many traditional vegetable stocks, as well as being one of the largest banana importers in the world. But the country has taken the fresh produce industry to the next level with its forward thinking, which has given producers and suppliers the edge. Elizabeth O’Keefe visits Northern Ireland to investigate.
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ArticleTipped for the top
British asparagus has enjoyed being in the spotlight for the last five years. Demand has increased significantly during this period and a highly effective PR campaign, coupled with sustained and widespread media interest, has captured consumer imagination. Doris Lee Butterworth reports.
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Trading relations could combust
The relationship between trading partners is a little like that between lovers or spouses. Disputes can break out and explode
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First FPC chief reflects on evolving industry
Doug Henderson was the proud recipient of the Florette Lifetime Achievement Award at Re:fresh last year. He talks to Laura Gould about his long career in the industry, including his role as the first-ever chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC).
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ArticlePrepared sector boldly faces the recession head on
The prep-heavy catering industry has taken a hit due to the recession, but the prepared produce sector is holding its own, mainly due to continuous price promotions at the retailers. Elizabeth O’Keefe asks, how much effect is the recession having on prepared?
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Scheme offers aid to British heritage
The first thing I would like to make quite clear is that I am all in favour of planting trees, be it on the international
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Bramley sector must build bridges
Bramley growers in England and Northern Ireland are at loggerheads this week over the latter’s application for protected
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ArticleMiles on trial
Globalisation of the food industry has meant that shoppers now expect their supermarket shelves to be stacked with fresh and exotic produce year round - and all this without their carbon footprints being compromised by the distance the product has travelled. Christopher Snelling of the Freight Transport Association (FTA) explains how the two may not be mutually exclusive.
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ArticleA whole new world
As one of the largest fruit and vegetable wholesale markets in the UK, New Spitalfields Market has a very positive tale to tell, and signals the revitalisation of the wholesale industry. At a time when the Olympic Games are bringing both opportunities and challenges to the East London site and procuring local produce for the market is becoming a real focus, Elizabeth O’Keefe takes in the atmosphere.
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ArticleEgypt feels the heat
The UK has been a key market for the Egyptian fresh produce sector for a number of years. However, as shippers feel the effects of the weak sterling, Doris Lee Butterworth asks producers what they are doing to remain competitive in the marketplace.
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Sustainable solutions trump green marketing
Information technology is playing an ever-increasing role in the arena of fresh produce. This month, Verdantix outlines why sustainable IT solutions will trump failed green IT marketing, packaging specialist Multisorb Technologies launches a new website, and Sainsbury’s signs up to a five-year deal with IBM for supply chain management.
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ArticleMore optimism in sector as sales slowly pick up
It has been a another tough quarter for the exotics category, but insiders are optimistic that both demand and volumes are slowly picking up in the UK market. Hopes are high that the next few months could continue in a similar vein. Laura Gould reports.
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Size really does matter on the fresh produce shelf
An FPJ reader asked me recently what I am looking for when I take a trip along the fresh produce aisles. The initial answer is
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Supply chain needs a bit of nurturing
Never one for keeping out of the headlines, Tesco has announced an impressive set of financial results this week that must
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ArticleAirfreight threat
Airfreight is responsible for a quarter of the value of all international goods moved in the UK, but it is still a somewhat forgotten part of the freight network. Here, Christopher Snelling, head of global supply chain policy at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), outlines how airfreight works to support the UK’s retail businesses and flags up the factors that threaten to undermine it.
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ArticleSouth Africa brimming with avo promise
South African avocado growers and exporters are ready to step up for another promising season. The first arrivals hit the UK just a few weeks ago and look in good shape. The market is buoyant, but volumes are not expected to reach the record highs of last year. Anna Sbuttoni reports.