BIGGEST BALLS UP: E. COLI
In years to come students in PR school could study the 2011 European E. coli outbreak as an example of how not to handle a crisis. When consumers started falling sick and even dying in Germany as a result of E. coli, authorities began clutching at every straw imaginable and, in a scattergun approach that seemed to hit everyone but the culprit, accused organic produce, cucumbers, the Spanish, beansprouts, Egypt and more, as the source of the outbreak. Fresh produce sales were decimated on some key lines, and it has taken months for some sectors to recover. Even a hastily congealed EU compensation fund didn’t cut it for many producers, and there were loud calls for heads to roll.
SUPERMARKET BOSS: DALTON PHILIPS
When looking at who’s been stealing the show in the supermarket wars this year, it’s hard to look beyond Morrisons and its talented new boss Dalton Philips. Eleven straight periods of growth, taking its market share to 12.1 per cent, only tells part of the picture, with Philips having also overseen Morrisons’ long awaited launch into the convenience sector with M Local. Putting fresh food and a unique supply chain at the heart of its growth strategy, Morrisons has become a force to be reckoned with and a fresh produce innovator.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR: RONALD MCDONALD
McDonald’s isn’t often held up as the model example of haute cuisine, but that didn’t stop MP Huw Irranca-Davies from using the fast food giant as an example to which government food standards should aspire. The shadow food and farming minister got up in parliament last month and told DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman: “Will the secretary of state stop clowning around with food standards and UK food production jobs, and at least - please - try to catch up with Ronald McDonald.” Big Mac and fries on hospital wards, anyone?
HANDBAGS AT DAWN: TENSION ON THE MARKETS
Tension between market traders and owners are not completely uncommon, but in two markets in particular the level of discontent has reached fever pitch this year. At Borough Market a group of traders dubbed the Maltby Eight left after a row with management over the future of wholesaling at the site - though they are believed to be in discussions over a return. Meanwhile in Birmingham, traders have accused the council of putting anything up to 15,000 jobs at risk by making them leave the market.
RIP:
Some major names fell off the fresh produce map this year, as the full impact of the global economic crisis began to reveal itself. From growers and suppliers to events and logistics sites, businesses struggled to avoid the administrator’s icy grip. Among those either disappearing for good or taking a break for business were AV Produce, Watton Produce, Sussex Mushrooms, the Liverpool Produce Terminal and the 2011 World Fruit and Veg Show in London. Everyone will hope that 2012 will bring better things.
LONGEST RUNNING SAGE: AGREXCO
The agonising decline and subsequent semi-revival of Israeli giant Agrexco kept horticultural journalists’ notepads full for months this year. In the pages of fresh produce magazines the likes of Shlomo Nass became a household name as the exporter lurched from one crisis to another, faced criticism from its own government and hurtled towards liquidation, before finally being rescued by flower growers Gideon Bickel and Chen Lamdan. Following months of uncertainty, those still left in the business will hope for an incident-free 2012.
CELEBRITY FRIEND OR FOE?
Celebrities have been falling over themselves to be snapped with fruit and vegetables this year, with everyone from Hollywood A-listers to musicians and sports stars proclaiming their love for the healthy stuff. But not all celebrities have been promoting good eating. US ‘foot long’ burger chain Carl’s Jr - which has run ads featuring Paris Hilton - plans to roll out in the UK, while TV chef Nigella Lawson has been pictured in the London press covered in chocolate this month. Which needs no further comment.
ABSURD INVENTION: 5 A DAY WONDER PILL
Seemingly the perfect solution to the lazy Brit’s nutritional needs was unveiled in July with news of the 5 A DAY wonder pill. Costing a mouth-watering £24.75 for a month’s supply, consumers can do away with all that bother of actually peeling and cutting fruit, cooking veg and preparing salad, and instead kick back with a delicious bowl of four little pills that, according to distributor Justin Dodd, “literally contain all five portions of your recommended minimum 5 A Day and can be taken on the move without any fuss.” Just steer clear of making it that special dish you prepare for a first date.
EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT...
FPJ’s been proud to bring you the biggest stories affecting the fresh produce trade this year. From Tesco’s Big Price Drop to the suspension of producer organisations, Unite’s campaign against the industry to the future of the cauliflower, it’s been one of the most eventful years in recent memory.
BRIGHT IDEA: ROBO-PICKERS
“Do androids dream of electric sheep?” asked Philip K Dick in his seminal novel that proved the inspiration behind classic sci fi movie Blade Runner. No, they dream of picking fruit in giant glasshouses. So step forward SynTouch, which has developed a radical technology known as “finger touch harvesting” that allows robots to sense when fruit is ripe. Rising to the drama of the announcement, SynTouch co-founder Dr Nick Wettels declared: “Robots in human form are not so far away.”
STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN: BARTLETT MOVES STATESIDE
Cracking the American market may not be the easiest of tasks - as everyone from Tesco to Robbie Williams have proved - but that has not deterred Albert Bartlett from setting up camp stateside. Perhaps wooed by Marcia Cross and the Hollywood jetset, Bartlett announced marketing manager John Hicks would be crossing the pond to scope out opportunities in the North American powerhouse.
BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:
Little Mix might be the nation’s darlings this week, but they’d better watch out, because The Co-operative’s CEO Peter Marks has got the Xmas number one in his sights. No, this isn’t some very belated April Fool’s windup - Marks has joined an eight-piece band of Co-operative employees named Angel Square to cover Take That’s Greatest Day. And it’s all for a good cause - proceeds will raise money for the retailer’s charities of the year, Mencap and ENABLE Scotland. And that wasn’t the only agricultural band to make the grade this year either - Yeo Valley’s own creation The Churned has been a regular feature of X Factor ad breaks over the last three months.
BEST BUSHEL BOX:
Bushel Box has certainly met some Mad Hatters this year, what with being a guest at Ms Marmitelover’s Avocado Brotherhood Supper Club and very moustached fresh produce men contacting us over the great Movember debate. But our highlight of 2011 has to be actually being in Alice In Wonderland, in Colombia that is. This is the story where we sent one of our happy (very) little helpers to the South American country to experience exactly what it was like to go down the rabbit hole. The 178cm tall roses (pictured) at floral industry trade show Proflora 2011 caught the attention of 662 people on US floral mag Flowers&’s Facebook page and was shared with 152 other pages. Now that’s an adventure and a half.
