Contact Us
Site icon

    If you are a candidate looking for a new role, a business looking for a recruitment partner or a recruitment professional looking for a career with Henderson Brown please fill in the below for a confidential conversation with one of our team:

    The EU’s average fruit and veggie intake has gone up to 364.58 g/day/capita in 2021. It’s a 2.19% increase from last year, and 1.27% higher than the previous 5-year average. However, it’s still almost 10% less than the 400g/day/capita minimum recommended by the World Health Organization.

    The fresh produce market size in the EU-27 reached £74.35m tonnes in 2021. This growth aligns with the positive trend seen since 2020, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    But, the economic crisis following the war in Ukraine in 2022 has put fruit and veggie consumption in Europe under pressure. Consumer purchasing power has been affected, and food expenditure has been limited.

    During crises, consumers tend to move towards less healthy diets. They see them as more energy-satisfactory and cheaper than fruits and veggies. This is why Freshfel Europe believes that the post-pandemic consumption growth has been lost. Consumption has declined by over 10% in many cases.

    According to the Freshfel Europe Consumption Monitor, only a few EU countries reached the recommended goal of consuming at least 400g of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

    Freshfel Europe is concerned that a 2019 Eurostat survey shows that 33% of EU consumers consume no fruit or veggies every day. Another 55% do not reach the recommended five portions a day. The association is also worried about the low consumption rates seen amongst the younger generations and in lower-income households.

    Freshfel Europe thinks that more needs to be done to encourage consumption. They believe that the fruit and vegetable sector should build on the momentum of increased consumption. This should be based on the benefits of fresh fruit and vegetables for the planet, the climate, and the consumers’ health.

    Freshfel Europe also wants to counter the misperception that fruits and vegetables are expensive. They believe that the sector should demonstrate its affordability and nutritional value. This would help move consumers towards a plant-based diet.

    Adding one piece of fruit or vegetable to the daily diet of European consumers could help boost consumption. This could bring the European market size up by almost 20% or 15m tonnes.

    Freshfel Europe concludes that a healthy diet that meets the minimum recommendation remains affordable. It can be achieved for less than £2/day.

    Information derived from fruitnet.com.

    Freshfel Europe Reports Rising Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the EU

    The weather was kind to us on Friday 21st June 2019 for our annual golf day held at The Luffenham Heath Golf Club. With the weather being more autumnal over the last few weeks, there was definitely some worry in the run-up that we may have to postpone. Luck was on our side however and the sun did appear.

    A total of nine teams took part, made up of some of our valued clients from the Food Manufacturing, Fresh Produce and Horticulture sectors. The golf was mixed at best, with some fantastic scores and some awful ones, but mainly great fun was had by all.

    Recruitment Director, Jason Kilbride said:

    “The annual golf day is always a day in the calendar which we look forward to. It’s a great opportunity to spend time with clients who have supported us and continue to work with us throughout the years. Luffenham Heath is a beautiful setting and a challenging day.”

    We would like to say a huge thank you to all that attended and in doing so, helped to raise some money for our charity. Special thanks to our Office Manager, Natalie Pask who put in so much effort organising the day, which ran very smoothly.

    See you again next year!

    RESULTS:

    1st Prize – Gareth Silverwood – Munoz – 40 points

    2nd Prize – Julian Wright – Ripenow – 34 points

    3rd Prize – Mike Harpham – Consultant – 34 points

    Ladies Prize – Rachel Gedney – TH Clements

    Nearest The Pin – Mike Harpham – Consultant

    Longest Drive – Louis Meryon – Addo

    Team Prize – Gareth Silverwood – Munoz

    Richard Dyde – Vitaal

    Ian Ball – Total Produce

    Mark Player – Munoz

    Wooden Spoon – Leigh Jones – Total Produce Food Service

    Bandit – Gareth Silverwood (40 points off 28 Handicap!!)


    Henderson Brown Golf Day 2019

    Henderson Brown Golf Day 2018

    Another fantastic event held at Luffenham Heath Golf Club, supporting our charity of the year The Green Backyard. Well attended with figures from across the Food Manufacturing, Fresh Produce and Horticulture sectors, the weather was glorious and although the golf was challenging, all had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Thank you to all of our attendees for their continued support.

    Our winner was Steve Rudge; after plenty of practice in the UAE over the last year he held of competition from last years winner Jason Smith. Both definitely marked for a handicap cut next time around! We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

    Overall Winner: Steve Rudge

    Runner Up: Jason Smith

    3rd Place: Andy Coaten

    Nearest The Pin: Steve Maxwell

    Longest Drive: Peter Ellis

    Winning Team: Steve Rudge and Peter Fry

     

     

    Henderson Brown Golf Day 2018

    Grape intake reversed stress-related cognitive, behavioural and biochemical deficits, according to a University of Houston study

    Results from a study recently published in the Journal of Nutrition Research have suggested that a grape-enriched diet may help over come the effect of stress.

    In the study, researchers observed a protective role of grapes on stress-induced anxiety-like behaviours, and learning and memory deficits in an animal model of post traumatic stress, attributed to both gene activation and enhanced antioxidant activity resulting from grape intake.

    This study, conducted at the University of Houston in the US, investigated the protective role of grapes against stress, and the mechanisms by which grapes achieved this.

    For the animals on grape-enriched diets, freeze-dried, whole grape powder was added to the drinking water for 3 weeks, followed by either the stress or control exposure, and then behaviour tests.

    The results showed that feeding the animals a grape-enriched diet prior to stress exposure successfully countered the detrimental effects of that stress on brain function and behavior. Specifically, grape intake prevented the memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviors that were observed in the rats with stress but no grapes in their diet.

    The researchers propose that the protective benefits of grape consumption start with enhanced antioxidant activity that reduces oxidative stress levels: systemic markers of oxidative stress were reduced in the grape consuming group. Once the oxidative stress is minimised, activation of key genes that help promote the survival of brain nerve cells is triggered.

    “Grapes appear to influence several processes that support brain health,” said Samina Salim, the lead investigator. “The potential interplay between grapes’ antioxidant activity and their impact on cell communication is very intriguing to us and we intend to study it further.”

    Grapes ‘help counter stress’

    Ostrich meat is starting to appear on UK supermarket shelves, with Tesco trialling ostrich kebabs, and Lidl and Aldi due to stock the speciality meat later in the year.

    Meat Trades Journal’s sister publication The Grocer revealed that Tesco is trialling free-range South African ostrich kebabs in 400 stores and offering 300g packs of four Mossel Bay ostrich kebabs for £5. It also reported that Aldi will be selling ostrich kebabs in September, with Lidl planning to roll out the exotic meat at Christmas.

    Tesco’s kebabs are supplied by db foods, a Dorset wholesaler, which supplies a varied selection of meat products, including a diverse game selection. The wholesaler already supplies a large number of butchers with ostrich and the kebabs are available in Whole Food Markets.

    Ostrich meat hits supermarket shelves

    Growers claim the modifications effectively give Morocco free access to the European market

    Spain has criticised a European Commission to reform the Entry Price System for tomatoes claiming it will cause significant harm to Spanish producers by clearing the way for a massive influx of Moroccan tomatoes during the peak of the Spanish season.

    The Commission announced on Monday that it would modify the way it calculates entry prices to include cherry tomatoes, instead of just round tomatoes. The proposed change will raise the average entry price and effectively means that Morocco will be allowed to export to the EU tariff-free as the entry price at which point the tariff is activated will always be higher than the preferential price of €46.1 per 100kg.

    Murcian exporter association Proexport accused the commission of caving in to pressure from Morocco and other non-EU countries and effectively given them free access to the European market.

    “This decision is a disaster for Spain’s tomato producers and leaves us defenceless,” said José Hernández, president of Proexport and Fepex’s Tomato Committee. “This will bring about a new pricing crisis and provoke growers to abandon farms leading to significant job losses.”

    The Spanish government has been calling for the Commission to apply the rules set out under article 4 of the Association Agreement between Morocco and the EU, which requires that exports from the African country are maintained at a stable level to avoid oversupply. It also called for the entry price to be raised in order to offset the effects of the changes to the method of calculating the entry price.

    EU imports of Moroccan tomatoes have increased from 194,000 tonnes in 2004 to 369,000 tonnes last year.

    Spain slams EU tomato rule change

    Award is the first level of accolade in the Responsible Business Awards, run by the charity Business in the Community

    East of England Co-op has been recognised with a ‘Big Tick’ as part of the prestigious Responsible Business Awards 2014 –

    The Big Tick is the first level of accolade in the Responsible Business Awards, run by the charity Business in the Community, which recognises businesses that are making a positive difference to society and to the environment.

    The award organisers noted the way that East of England Co-op’s Sourced Locally programme has had a transformational effect on the regional economy since it began in 2007.

    Through payments to local growers and producers, more than £24 million has been ploughed back into the local economy, and helped producers to create over 300 new jobs, as well as protecting many more.

    Kevin Warden, local and fresh foods manager for East of England Co-op, said: “The success of Sourced Locally keeps growing and gaining the Big Tick again this year is great news. We’re always talking to new suppliers, and looking for new products to add to our shelves. We have saved food miles, encouraged local suppliers to work together and given customers the chance to buy products which are produced and grown in their area.”

    A Big Tick is a leading endorsement of responsible business, and companies are awarded for initiatives tackling a range of issues: from stimulating local or rural communities, building long-term partnerships with schools, inspiring young talent, to embedding environmental sustainability into how products and services are used by customers.

    Stephen Howard, chief executive at Business in the Community, said: “The Responsible Business Awards shine a much needed spotlight on the powerful impact of business. Each of the companies recognised are playing their part to build a new contract between business and society and a more sustainable future for us all. I congratulate the East of England Co-op for its’ Big Tick reaccreditation, which is a powerful symbol of business doing more to bring about change.”

    East of England Co-op gets ‘Big Tick’

    Indian betel linked to Birmingham hospital’s food poisoning case could get an EU ban akin to that for Alphonso mangoes

    Another item of fresh produce from India is on the verge of being hit by an export ban.

    Betel leaves exported from India have been linked to an outbreak of food poisoning at Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital, and there have been warnings from the EU that a ban similar to the one imposed on Indian Alphonso mangoes could follow, according to reports on the CNBC news channel in India.

    The EU announced last week that Indian betel leaves (often known as ‘paan’, and used for a stimulating and psychoactive preparation combined with areca nut and/or cured tobacco) have been testing positive for Salmonella, and these are now being linked to the outbreak in the Midlands. The EU case is that the leaves themselves have not been treated properly, CNBC reported.

    Uday Dholakia, chairman of the National Asian Business Association, told CNBC: “Talking to a lot of the officers, one of the areas they’re looking at are the imported vegetables from India, and paan is one of them.”

    Jon Ashworth, MP for Leicester South, said: “The UK government has supported the banning of Alphonso mangoes from India. Now it sounds like they are going to be supporting the banning of paan coming in from India. I think lots of people in Leicester enjoy both the mangoes and the paan.

    “I think regulators need to work closely with the business community and exporters in India to sort these problems out quickly because I don’t want to see more Leicester businesses and more UK businesses hit by another ban.”

    Warnings of a new ban come following extensive diplomatic efforts to end the mango ban.

    Ranjan Mathai, Indian High Commissioner in Britain, told CNBC: “When the ban was initially put in place by an order at the end of March, we were told that this would be effective till the end of 2015. What we have been able to do is to have an agreement that the Food and Veterinary Organisation conduct another inspection another survey a little wider this time of many food products and not just mangoes and they would be examining this.

    “That would be brought up to September this year, which provides us the opportunity to have this matter reviewed.”

    Leaf linked to UK salmonella outbreak may face export ban

    Watercress tops list aimed at defining the nutritional density that makes a “powerhouse” fruit and vegetable

    Superfoods have been the rage for several years – the things that, if we eat them, are said to protect us from a variety of health issues.

    Many a food item has had its 15 minutes as ‘the’ superfood, but a new list looking to define what exactly “powerhouse” fruit and vegetables (PFV) are put watercress at the top of the list.

    The research, from the United States of America’s William Paterson University, rated 47 different fruits and vegetables on their compilation of fibre, calcium, protein, potassium, and vitamins, among other things.

    Researchers developed and validated a classification scheme defining PFV as foods providing, on average, 10% or more daily value per 100 kcal of 17 qualifying nutrients.

    Of the 47 foods studied, 41 satisfied the powerhouse criterion and were more nutrient-dense than were non-PFV, providing preliminary evidence of the validity of the classification scheme.

    The researchers’ top 30 is as follows: 

    1. Watercress // 2. Chinese cabbage // 3. Chard // 4. Beet greens // 5. Spinach // 6. Chicory // 7. Leaf lettuce // 8. Parsley // 9. Romaine lettuce // 10. Collard greens // 11. Turnip greens // 12. Mustard greens // 13. Endives // 14. Chives // 15. Kale // 16. Dandelion greens // 17. Red peppers // 18. Rocket // 19. Broccoli // 20. Pumpkin // 21. Brussels sprouts // 22. Spring onions // 23. Kohlrabi // 24. Cauliflower // 25. Cabbage // 26. Carrots // 27. Tomatoes // 28. Lemons // 29. Iceberg lettuce // 30. Strawberries

    The six that didn’t make the cut were raspberries, tangerines, cranberries, garlic, onions, and blueberries.

    And the number one superfood is…
    Submit Your CV