Stuck rationing toilet paper because you didn
Retail
Branston hopes for purple patch for Violet Queen potato variety
Branston, potato supplier based in the UK, is asking shoppers whether they want to see its new Violet Queen variety become a mainstay of the potato aisles as part of its launch of the eye-catching purple variety, Fruitnet reports. Violet Queen is being launched into selected Tesco stores for a limited time from this month, having been developed for its unusual colour and rich texture.
Australian shoppers urged to eat smarter and add more potatoes to supermarket trolleys
Australians stockpiling groceries to prepare for COVID-19 are being warned against wasting food by a leading Australian authority.
COVID-19: Labour shortage but plenty fruits and vegetables available
The horticultural industry in general relies greatly on international workers and the travel limitations could become a serious issue. “I
Coronavirus in the US:
Americans have been alarmed by empty grocery shelves, but while food suppliers and retailers say they are struggling with surging demand, they insist the supply chain remains strong, write four reporters in an article published by the NY Times. The aisles and aisles of empty store shelves give the appearance that the United States, improbably and alarmingly, is running out of food. But the nation
Power of Produce 2020 report: How
The percentage of U.S. consumers who eat fruits and vegetables daily has dropped noticeably in recent years, according to the new Power of Produce report. According to an article by Ashley Nickle, published in Produce Retailer, in 2018, 48% consumers reported eating fruits and/or vegetables just about every day. In 2019, the number dropped to 41%. In the most recent report, the number is 35%.
Potatoes USA has retailers’ backs with ‘Path to Purchase’ study
Lilian Diep is a trade news writer with AndNowUKnow. She recently wrote in an article:
Expert Opinion: What could the coronavirus mean for the global potato industry?
The spread and fear of coronavirus has stepped up a gear this week, with more than 110 countries or territories reporting 129,000 cases and more than 4, 000 deaths between them, writes potato market analyst Cedric Porter in this week’s issue of World Potato Markets. The virus is having an impact on the potato industry, Porter says. Some countries are reporting an increase in table potato sales as people stock up on essential goods, but processing potato prices, especially in Europe, have plunged on physical and futures markets. The current crisis is being likened to the economic crisis which began in 2008.
Consumer research: Shoppers willing to buy gene-edited food if they know its benefits
The FMI Foundation in partnership with the American Seed Trade Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Farm Foundation, today released a
British potato industry urged to heed consistency at retail as sales drop
Inconsistency in the quality of standard 2.5kg retail packs of potatoes has been held responsible for a downward slide in main crop potato sales, reports Nancy Nicolson in The Courier. Speaking to the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) potato committee meeting, the technical director of Albert Bartlett Potatoes, Paddy Graham Jones suggested variability in the generic
Produce exposed: Is plastic-free produce the next frontier?
“Naked produce. No, it
Slim supplies continue on potatoes in North America, coronavirus influencing buyers and retailers
Potato supplies continue to be snug across North America, though how tight things are is still to be determined.
Potatoes USA considers effects of coronavirus on consumer behaviour
Tom Karst writes in The Packer today that the 2020 annual meeting of Potatoes USA proceeded as planned even as news was breaking that the NCAA decided to exclude fans from its annual post-season basketball tournament the coronavirus, COVID-19. Some potato marketers said that sales of dehydrated potato flakes have increased while foodservice fresh and frozen sales have dropped. Most said they don
Report: ‘UK savoury snacks industry is a real success story’
A new report by The Snack, Nut and Crisp Manufacturers Association (SNACMA), estimates the total value of the UK
How one sack of potatoes grew into vibrant business for an entrepreneurial Kenyan woman
In 1998 Irene Mwangi started peeling potatoes and delivering them to a food outlet in Nairobi. She never imagined the humble beginning in her business would grow into a thriving enterprise it is today. Ms Mwangi started with one sack of potatoes, and her business now now processes potatoes supplied to a number of fast food chains, schools and various institutions.
Australian companies offer commercial opportunities for potato waste
Four of the largest potato producers in Australia want to convert 100 per cent of their potato waste into commercial benefit through their partnership with the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). Over the next three years, The Mitolo Group, Zerella Fresh, Thomas Foods International Fresh Produce, The South Australian Potato Company, together with Industry Association; Potatoes South Australia[Read More…]
World Potato Congress: ‘Africa could displace North America as the third largest potato producer’
The world’s potato production growth stagnated in 2018 and couldn’t recover in 2019, according to a recent statement by the World Potato Congress (WPC). It is said that in total, 368,247,000 tons were produced in 2018, according to FAO. Even so, it was the third-highest production after 2017 and 2014. FAO estimated that 158 countries for which it has data[Read More…]
TOMRA Food: ‘Why we must rethink the potato for a sustainable use of resources’
We must change how we handle our resources. A rapidly growing population, increased demand for produce and the threat of climate change bring with them risks to the food supply chain, and new approaches must be looked at to enable a sustainable future, according to TOMRA Food in Europe. Perhaps often overlooked within the food crisis though is the potato,[Read More…]
Convenience, sustainability, recyclable options driving latest potato packaging design
The challenge to creating a compelling package for potatoes is complex, because bags must protect product integrity while attracting a shopper’s attention, says Jeff Watkin, marketing director with Collinsville, Ill.-based packaging manufacturer Sev-Rend Inc. told The Packer magazine in a recent interview., One challenge Sev-Rend has met involves a bag that prevents greening and preserves the potatoes’ shelf life, he said.[Read More…]
US: Success with dollars and volume sales at retail, but russet, red sales down
IRI data for the calendar year 2019 (January through December 2019) showed success with dollars and volume sales for total potato sales at retail, Potatoes USA reports. Total dollar sales increased by 2.2% and volume increased by 0.4%. Potato chips, frozen potatoes, refrigerated potatoes, and dehydrated potatoes increased in sales volume. Refrigerated potatoes saw a 7.0% lift in dollar sales[Read More…]
Ireland: Second lowest acreage of potatoes planted in 2019
The area of potatoes planted in Ireland in 2019 was the second lowest on record, after 2018, which was the lowest on record. There was also a further decrease in the plantings of traditional varieties such as Kerr’s Pink and Golden Wonders. Speaking at the recent National Potato conference in Dublin IFA president Tim Cullinan said farmers continue to be the[Read More…]
Mini potato bites dubbed the 'must-have' Aldi buy by Aussies
Of the thousands of products sold in Aldi stores across Australia, customers have dubbed the Maitre D’ Potato Gratin as the ‘must have’ buy of 2020 so far. Priced at a mere AUS$3.69, the miniature frozen potato bites are ideal for family dinners or lunch treats. Hundreds of happy customers praised the product on Facebook with many describing the item[Read More…]
PepsiCo New Zealand changes cooking oil, reducing amount of saturated fat in chips
PepsiCo New Zealand is committed to reducing the saturated fat, sodium and added sugars for Kiwi consumers, Potatoes NZ reports. Exciting news from the potato crisp industry recently, as PepsiCo NZ evolve healthier processing for NZ’s favourite snacks. The maker of Bluebird potato chips and other snacks, has changed the cooking oil for its major snack brands to canola oil.[Read More…]
Specialty, organic potatoes help expand sales
There’s more to the potato business than reds, whites and russets, marketers in the US say. Specialty varieties and organics are important parts of the product mix, they note. “We need to continue to explore varietals,” said Mike Hart, director of sales and marketing for Fryeburg, Maine-based Green Thumb Farms. “When I look at the produce section as a whole and[Read More…]
No small fry: New MountainKing merchandising program focuses on baby potatoes
As sales of baby Golds, Reds and Medley potatoes continue to climb, MountainKing is embarking on an aggressive program to provide its retail partners with turnkey, display-ready options aimed at driving sales of the smaller, pre-sized variety. “Small potatoes are under-promoted and under-merchandised,” says John Pope, MountainKing vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re working to change that narrative in[Read More…]
PepsiCo to buy online snacks retailer in China
PepsiCo Inc. plans to buy online snacks company Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. — known as Be & Cheery — for $705 million from Haoxiangni Health Food Co. as the maker of Doritos and Lay’s potato chips expands in China.
Rough fall weather in the US leads to strong winter market for potatoes
Rough weather during the U.S. potato harvest last fall continues to shake up the markets well into 2020, marketers say. “Overall, the market is elevated due to several weather-related issues across the country during fall harvest,” said Rachel Atkinson-Leach, category and brand manager for Russet Potato Exchange Inc., Bancroft, Wis. Recent prices seemed to support that contention, with year-on-year prices[Read More…]