Opinion remains divided over whether French carrots can make gains in the UK this season. Leading importers have praised the quality and early start of French carrots this season but while some are optimistic that the slower UK start will provide greater opportunities, others believe it will be business as usual.
Fruco is the largest independent importer of French carrots and began importing on May 24.
“Demand is reasonable but it’s not as good as we’d like it to be,” says Fruco’s Simon Lane. “There are a lot of sources available including old-season Scottish, Spanish, Italian, Israeli and even Australian carrots.”
Fruco has imported French carrots since the early 1970s and works in partnership with one grower. “A joint partnership works better for us than a client-supplier relationship,” Lane says.
How big the French carrot window will be depends on a number of factors, including the level of UK stocks available and the client you are supplying, say importers.
Fruco supplies one of the UK’s top three multiples and Lane notes that the retail window for French carrots lasts for 2-3 weeks. However, more traditional outlets offer a six-week window.
Lane has nothing but praise for French carrots: “The quality is great, good sizes are available, they’ve got everything. The man on the street prefers French carrots. The only thing is that they can be a little more expensive per kilo, which does have an effect.”
A number of importers believe the French are in with a reasonable chance this season. Given that the English season has been slightly delayed, this should throw up good opportunities for French carrots - certainly more so than the last couple of years when the window has almost been closed.
Indeed, French carrot producers have faced an uphill struggle in the UK as a strong market, coupled with an abundance of product has managed to squeeze the French deal. Low prices for imports have also put some players off.
Alfred G Pearce began importing French carrots in early June and plans to switch to UK product at the end of the month.
“We import carrots for processing work and size is critical to us,” says Simon Pearce, commercial director. “The market has been relatively static for prepared vegetables, it’s more about keeping with the right quality and sizes.”
However, other importers believe there is little room for manoeuvre and that French carrots will simply fill a small gap between the old UK season and the start of the new one.
“English pre-packers have got enough stock to last until the new season,” says David Formosa of Formosa Monro Ltd. “We used to do 3,000-4,000 tonnes of French carrots a season and now we barely do 200t. In my opinion, there isn’t going to be a season for French carrots.”
Greencell imports carrots from Bordeaux and the company’s Albert Outmezguine has reported excellent quality, new-season product. “The French have the volumes but market conditions in the UK aren’t so good as there are carrots from Spain, Israel and Italy,” he says.
Indeed, although the French carrot season is in full swing, importers note that its success depends to some degree on the commitment of the multiples. “If they get involved in French imports, that’s great but if they don’t, the market will be difficult and the French will find alternative outlets,” says Outmezguine.
In recent years, retailers have relied on UK carrots and only turn to imports when domestic product is unavailable. However, observers believe that this strategy could be short-sighted.
“You can’t compare a new crop which is so much tastier than an old one, regardless of where it’s from,” Outmezguine says.
Lane agrees: “You won’t get a better carrot than a new-season French one.”
However, in current conditions, as UK production dominates the marketplace, other supply sources are unlikely to get much of a look in.
“The chances of the window for French carrots becoming wider will only happen in cases of extreme winter weather in the UK,” Lane predicts.
France is Europe’s second largest producer of carrots after Poland, growing approximately 625,000t. The south-west represents the largest producing region, accounting for more than 40 per cent of volumes.
Early season carrots come on-line in May with the season running to mid-July. It is during this period that French producers can make the most of opportunities in the UK.
More than 15 per cent of the French carrot crop is exported, with the EU-member countries taking the majority of volumes. However, other areas such as African nations and Russia are also growing in importance.
