FreshConex Highlights Opportunities for Fresh-Cut Processors
The market for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook fruit and vegetables continues on an upward swing. An increase in the number of single-person households, more meals eaten away from home, changing eating habits and quick and easy availability are all key factors driving the demand for fresh convenience products, according to Messe Berlin, organizing company for Fruit Logistica and FreshConex.
This trend is clearly reflected in the excellent market overview of fresh convenience products and services at FreshConex 2010 taking place on Feb. 3-5 in Berlin. FreshConex, Europe’s only business and information platform dedicated to the rapidly growing market for fresh produce convenience products, is being held in Hall 1.1, adjacent to the main entrance south at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. The event will host 71 exhibitors from 15 countries, with over 80 percent of the exhibitors coming from outside Germany. FreshConex takes place in conjunction with Fruit Logistica 2010, the leading international trade fair for fresh fruit and vegetable business. Both of these trade events attract a large number of top-level decision-makers.
According to the latest information compiled by market researchers at the GfK, Nuremberg, in contrast to other European countries and America, the market for fresh produce convenience products in Germany got off to a late start and is still underdeveloped. The main segments, fresh-cut salads and smoothies, currently determine the size and development of the market, with these two segments alone accounting for 85 percent of all fresh produce convenience sales in Germany.
The FreshConex 2010 exhibition offers trade visitors an excellent cross-section of the entire sector, from fresh convenience products, processing technologies and special packaging to quality and safety. Exhibitors for the “Fresh Convenience Products and Ingredients” segment include Bonatura (Switzerland), Hessing (Netherlands), Fructofresh (Poland) and Tacken (Germany). In the “Product Packaging and Processing Technology” segment, exhibitors include Multivac (Germany), Food Technology (Netherlands), Hefestus (Israel) and Turatti (Italy). Exhibitors specialising in “Quality and Safety” include Best N.V. (Belgium), Raytec (Italy) and AgriCoat (UK). In addition, both France and the Netherlands will be present with national pavilions.
The FreshConex 2010 Business Forum offers trade professionals excellent opportunities to learn about the latest market trends from internationally recognised experts, who will be reporting on the latest developments. Key themes include “New technologies for fresh produce convenience” (3.2.), “Innovations in marketing for fresh produce convenience” (4.2.) and “Improved logistics and distribution for fresh produce convenience” (5.2.). Organised by Eurofruit Magazine (London) and the United Fresh Produce Association (USA), the FRESHCONEX Business Forum offers valuable market information along with excellent opportunities to exchange information with international business associates.
