vvvegco trade

Welcome to The Very Very Veg Co’s Trading Talk page! The Fenmarc team have created Trading Talk to keep you updated with developments in fresh produce marketing. We aim to bring you the latest news, views and information on this fast-changing marketplace.

Right now it’s an exciting time to be involved with fresh produce. Thanks to celebrities like Jamie Oliver and campaigns by major retailers, not to mention the economy, many British consumers want to make healthier, more economical choices when it comes to feeding their families.

So when our research showed that many cooks were ’stuck in a rut’ when it came to buying and preparing fresh veg, we swung into action and created our very own range of branded veg. With handy tips for storage and prep, plus easy, tasty recipes on-pack and online, we’re ready to bring the nation’s vegetable aisles to life with a new sense of adventure.

The Very Very Veg Co range is designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers, from kitchen novices just starting out with home cooking, to experienced cooks looking for new and different ways to prepare veg: The range comprises:

• Everyday Favourites: Our core, value-for-money selection of everyday veg.
• Unearthed Treasures: Unique or unusual varieties like our red-and-white Rudolph potatoes and colourful Rainbow Carrots.
• Organic: Grown to Organic Food Federation standards
• Easy Peasy: Tasty veg dishes with a twist – the ultimate convenience range
• Small and Sweet: Veg that tastes as sweet and tender as it looks

According to an article in The Grocer, the growing trend for branded fresh produce isn’t just good for the nation’s wellbeing; pepping up the produce aisle is good for retail sales too. That’s why we’re committed to thinking up new ways to help consumers make the most of their veg, with new products, in-store events and memorable promotions all in the pipeline.

So we hope you’ll check in regularly, or even better, subscribe to The VVVeg Co’s Trading Talk page. We’ll keep you posted on industry and consumer trends and offer instant links to leading online information sites. And if you’d like to share news, views and questions about the fresh produce trade, we’d be very, very happy to hear from you. Contact us – you’ll find our details in the contact section above.

We look forward to keeping you updated with The Very Very Veg Co as it grows!

With Christmas shopping in full swing, more than four in 10 UK retailers are confident Christmas trading in 2009 will be better than during the festive season last year, according to news items on leading grocery website Talking Retail.

There’s more good news for food producers: UK shoppers are intending to spend more on food and drink this Christmas than in 2008 but less on gifts. According to the latest wave of GfK NOP’s annual Christmas Spending survey covering 3-6 December 2009, the intended average spend on food and drink has increased marginally from £139 in 2008 to £146 in 2009.

With this food focus in mind, and on the countdown to the big day, The Very Very Veg Co is well prepared for the traditional last-minute dash to the supermarket. Together with the launch of their Rudolph potato from the Unearthed Treasures range, they’re also offering several other veg staples for Christmas dinner and beyond. These include carrots, parsnips and Brussels sprouts in the Everyday Favourites range, and ‘Easy Peasy’ ready-to-cook Trimmed Sprouts. Just the kind of timesaving purchase consumers will go for as things get hotter in the kitchen!

“Anticipating last-minute grocery runs will ensure that retailers don’t run out of vital veg supplies,” says The Very Very Veg Co’s Gary Crickmore. And in line with the brand’s mission to get consumers more interested in discovering fresh veg, each pack features a delicious taste twist on the seasonal favourite.

Garlic and Thyme Carrots and Maple-drizzled Parsnips take these everyday roots to new flavour highs, while sprouts go glamorous with a sprinkle of nutmeg or rich chestnut butter. They’re all simple ideas to make holiday meals more special. If you’d like to find out more about varieties and availabililty, just contact us at The Very Very Veg Co, by clicking on the ‘Get In Touch’ link at the top of the page.

And for a delicious way to say Happy Christmas to our readers, we’re delighted to share the recipe for the yummy lemon cake we featured on our stand at the recent Potato Show in Harrogate. It was beautifully baked by specialist confectioners Saints and Sinners, based in Spalding, Lincs., from a recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on his popular Channel 4 TV programme, River Cottage. (Thanks to HFW and Channel 4 for letting us share)! With its tangy lemon topping and smooth mashed potato mix, it makes a refreshing and unusual contrast to the rich spicy flavours of Christmas fare.

From the sales and marketing team at The Very Very Veg Co, we wish you a Very Very Happy Christmas and a produce-prosperous New Year!