In Europe, many people are home during the lockdown, so they all have to eat there. That includes Germany, where people bought as much as 14% more fresh vegetables in 2020 than the previous year. Shoppers purchased a lot of products like onions and mushrooms. That's evident from information from GroentenFruit Huis. This Dutch cooperative bases this on a German market research institute, GfK's, figures.
German restaurants and company canteens are closed. That's had a significant impact on the country. Before COVID-19 hit, more than 20% of German vegetable consumption took place outside the home. Last year, household purchases increased the most in April (Easter) and December (Christmas). During the pandemic, German at-home consumers bought more onions (+19%), chestnut mushrooms (+28%), and aubergines (+33%).
Tomatoes, the top seller
In 2020, Germans bought far more tomatoes than carrots or cucumbers. The volume purchased was more than ten percent higher than in 2019. Of the tomatoes bought, 45% were small varieties. These include cherry, snack, and cocktail tomatoes. In terms of monetary value, that's a 62% increase. People also bought more cucumbers (+14%) and bell peppers (+12%) last year.
Fruit more expensive
How did fruit do in 2020? German households bought four percent fewer fruits than vegetables in 2020. The average price per kg of fruit was 12% higher than in 2019. Avocados, mangos, and blueberries are becoming more popular. The most-purchased fruit in Germany is the apple. Bananas are in a close second place, with oranges in a distant third. Households purchase twice as many apples and bananas as oranges. Pre COVID-19, about ten percent of fruit consumption took place outside the home.
Rise in Dutch sales
With 37%, Germany is the Netherlands' most important fruit and vegetable sales market, by far. That involves a combination of Dutch-grown and imported products. These are resold to German clients. In 2020, fresh fruit and vegetable sales turnover to Germany rose by nine percent to €4.8 billion. Particularly bell pepper, cucumber, avocado, apple, and pear sales increased.
For more information:
GroentenFruit Huis
Tel: +31 (0) 793 681 113
Email: info@groentenfruithuis.nl
Website: www.groentenfruithuis.nl