Confectionery Production Industry fruit supply chain security rated as critical for sector development

The ability of supply chain operators to offer safe, sustainable and high-quality fruit products for a variety of sectors including for confectionery is the key factor on which value creation depends.

That is the core finding of a recent study conducted by the European Berry Swing Project on a group of over 300 mountain sports enthusiasts, carried out in Livigno during the last Winter Olympics. According to the group’s survey, nearly 9 in 10 consumers consider European berries superior in quality to competing products from alternative locations. Food safety is a key strength, with 90% associating EU berries with rigorous controls and reliable traceability. Sustainability is also highly valued: 87% consider EU strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and redcurrants more sustainable than non-EU alternatives, both environmentally and socially. Indeed, the confectionery sector has increasingly move to offer fruit inclusions in a wide range of categories, most notably within the gummy segment, but also across wider chocolate and snacking segments. Nine in ten respondents also rate their taste as superior, while 88% consider them healthier. Moreover, 7 in 10 are more ...