Led by Montreal, Canada’s dynamic produce trade is making a comeback

Montreal, the largest city in Canada’s Québec province, is a dynamic place where cultures, ideas and fashions intermingle, and the food culture is strong. Although the city retains many French Canadian roots, the opening of a new supermarket in 2022 demonstrates it also has a diverse culture. Last year, the first Quebec T&T Supermarket opened […]

When it comes to produce departments, knowledge is power

Our world is in a continuous state of change. Demographics are changing across the globe, as immigrants move to new locations and influence their new homes in many ways. One of the major changes is the influx of new and different cuisines being introduced in all areas of the world. To meet these changes in […]

Jim Prevor: My Thousandth Man

This tribute appeared in Produce Business magazine earlier this year, just two months after the passing of co-founder Jim Prevor. On the wall in my home is a Rudyard Kipling poem that Jim had mounted and framed. He gave it to me about the same year he and Debbie were married. I did not realize […]

Could Africa’s ‘forgotten crops’ be key to a healthier, sustainable future?

What do wild custard apples, bush plums, Malabar spinach, spider plants and bottle gourd have in common? They are all among a group of African fruits and vegetables highlighted as forgotten food crops by a group of researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the World Vegetable Center, World Agroforestry and other institutions. They say oft-dismissed […]

Loyalty card discounts prove ‘win-win’ for shoppers, supermarket chains

What drives supermarket shoppers to buy certain products over others? In a tight economy, price often wins out over brand and even high quality. But one other factor appears to be driving sentiment and purchasing in 2023: loyalty card discounts. According to new data revealed by NielsenIQ (now NIQ), more than 50% of UK retail […]

UK growers forced to chop down apple trees because of lack of profits

apples trees

After years of struggling with an increasingly challenging market, unpredictable climate, inflation, and lack of labour, some apple growers in England are seeing no profit and cutting down apple orchards.  This is the case for the southeast county of Kent “Garden of England,” where a family-owned apple farm that has been producing since 1882 will […]

Product rationalisation in Food and Drink: Causes and challenges for manufacturers

The need for product rationalisation has significantly increased in recent years for a number of reasons. Major events have influenced changes in consumers’ shopping behaviour, affecting retailers, and in turn suppliers. The Covid-19 pandemic caused retailers to reduce their product range following consumers’ shopping patterns, contributing to the development of a ‘simplification’ trend that has […]