-
Website will open in10seconds
US Blueberry Consumption Continues to Increase
04 May 2017 --- With global blueberry production up 40 percent 2012-2016 and projected to reach 658 million kilograms this year, the US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is focused on driving demand upward on the same trajectory. US per capita blueberry consumption grew 599 percent from 1994-2014 and the USHBC’s newest research indicates further room for growth. In late 2016, the USHBC issued an opportunity assessment study to examine which consumer and business segments are best suited to absorb the building volume of berries coming to market. “We were pleased to find that, among the top fruits – including bananas, strawberries, apples, grapes and citrus – blueberries are the only one expecting increased consumption in 2017,” says Mark Villata, Executive Director of the USHBC. “The research also helped us refine and expand our consumer and business target audiences so we’re able to concentrate on those with the greatest growth potential.” The study found that heavy and moderate blueberry users, who represent half of the US population (25 percent each), show the most growth potential of all user segments. Heavy users consume 19+ cups per year, are mainly ages 25-45, have children in the home and span all ethnicities. Of this group, 73 percent see blueberries as a part of their lifestyle; they will go out of their way to purchase blueberries, and take time to understand the nutritional composition of blueberry-containing foods. Fresh and frozen consumption among this segment is expected to increase by 5 percent in 2017. Moderate users consume 6-18 cups per year, and span all ages and ethnicities. Blueberries are projected to go from moderate users’ #6 preferred fruit to #3 in 2017. Among the moderate user segment, fresh and frozen consumption is expected to increase by 12 percent in 2017. These key findings have influenced the Council’s latest strategies to grow demand, which include targeting marketing campaigns at moderate users, and engaging heavy users to influence moderate users’ blueberry purchases. “Our summer campaign launching in mid-May will build on those strategies and others,” Villata says. “We’re developing new recipes and promoting them in a way to fit moderate users’ needs, from offering simple, visual recipe guides to partnering with individuals, food and fitness influencers who evoke trust and can aid in establishing blueberries as our target users’ favorite summer food.” To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com 
Related ArticlesFood Ingredients News Food loss challenge: Rabobank’s start-up shortlist to help reduce food loss in Asia
15 Oct 2018 --- Rabobank is tackling the issue of food loss throughout the supply chain by focusing on holistic solutions and is running a competition where start-ups pitch their ideas to reduce food loss to food and agri industry leaders and investors. Through the Food Loss Challenge Asia, Rabobank aims to look for solutions to curb food loss from farm to market and is asking start-ups “Do you have an existing tech-based solution that reduces food loss from farm to market in Asia?” Food Ingredients News Danone to use Nutri-Score labels on fresh dairy products in Belgium
15 Oct 2018 --- Danone is to pioneer a color-coded food labeling system on all its fresh dairy products in Belgium. The French multinational food-products corporation is getting ahead of a government-backed voluntary scheme for food products which sees the Belgium health ministry encouraging better nutritional labeling. The Nutri-Score systems come at the time when consumers are paying much more attention to what they eat and is in line with Innova Markets Insights' top trend for 2018 – “Mindful Choices” – the increasingly thoughtful consumer continues to catalyze changes in the way that companies produce, package and label their products. Food Ingredients News Greencore sells US operations to Hearthside in US$1bn plus deal
15 Oct 2018 --- Greencore Group plc has agreed to the sale of its entire US business, Greencore US, to an affiliate of Hearthside Food Solutions LLC for US$1,075 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Greencore says that following the deal, it expects to have a leading position in its core UK market, greater financial and strategic flexibility and potential for dynamic capital management. Hearthside believes the transaction marks a significant step in the further growth and development of its network. Food Ingredients News Chr. Hansen acquires dairy ingredient supplier Hundsbichler, raises organic growth targets
15 Oct 2018 --- Chr. Hansen is further expanding its enzyme production and presence into the traditional segments of specialty cheeses, with the newly announced acquisition of the assets of Austrian-based ingredient supplier Österreichische Laberzeugung Hundsbichler GmbH. Hundsbichler products are widely recognized for high quality and the purchase will enable Chr. Hansen to offer cheesemakers a second-to-none product portfolio in the animal rennet space, according to the company. Separately, the company announced that it had achieved all the overall financial targets set at the beginning of the year and raised its ambitions 9-11 percent organic growth for next year. Food Ingredients News Start-up focus: US-based Variety Fun targets healthy and convenient snacks market, direct to your door
15 Oct 2018 --- Two entrepreneurs have turned their US$165,000 investment into a millennial-favorite snack subscription box, that is now projecting US$12 million dollars in sales for 2018 and over 500,000 boxes sold on Amazon. According to the company, Variety Fun’s subscription service delivers an assortment of snacks to US offices, improving workplace culture and boosting employee morale. Variety Fun is a snack subscription box that curates “hundreds of the best-tasting, classic and nutritional brands,” including Popcorners, Hippeas, and Popchips, for offices in the US. By partnering with over 500 snack brands, the company offers businesses the most affordable and convenient subscription snack service with the most extensive selection. |
