Ready-made salads and vegetables are still popular

“Since the first bags hit the shelves at the beginning of the 1980s, ready-to-use salads and fresh vegetables have gradually become everyday essentials. » Pierre Meliet, president of the Union of manufacturers of fresh ready-to-use vegetable products (SVFPE), recalled this on Tuesday November 12, 2024 during a press conference in Paris.

A market multiplied by 5 in 30 years

The French market for ready-to-use fresh salads and vegetables has seen its volumes increase almost 5-fold in 30 years. “It shows good resistance compared to raw vegetables sold in bulk,” added Dominique Duprat, vice-president of the SVFPE.

According to the latest figures available, purchases of raw vegetables in stores fell by 12% over the first 8 months of the last 4 years, while purchases of ready-made vegetables fell by 3% over the same period. In 2023, France produced nearly 109,000 tonnes of ready-to-use fresh salads, raw vegetables, vegetables and aromatic herbs on the territory, including 80% bagged salads.

Praised practicality and speed

It would now be 72% of French people who buy ready-to-use plants in stores. With more than one purchase per month, this consumption would therefore represent 14 sachets per year per buyer.

According to the latest survey conducted by the SVFPE with the CSA Institute (1), buyers are convinced that ready-to-use salads and vegetables help them increase their proportion of plants in their diet, by allowing them to eat 5 fruits and vegetables per day. They agree on their practicality (64% for salads; 51% for vegetables) and their speed of preparation (55% for salads; 51% for vegetables).

“While the importance of plants in the diet no longer needs to be demonstrated, and more and more French people want to increase their share in their plates while devoting less time to cooking, The figures for in-store purchases prove the relevance of ready-to-use salads and vegetables to support this underlying trend,” judges the union.

“The sector and its 3,500 jobs in the country, including 2,500 in the 12 workshops spread across France and 1,000 in market gardening, thus contributes to the greening of plates by making life easier for consumers,” he says. it again.

Upcoming social responsibility charter

To continue to meet consumer expectations, by offering mainly local ready-to-use salads and vegetables (up to 90% salads of French origin in peak season), the French sector aims to formalize its commitments and its progress in a Charter of Social Responsibility.

The SVFPE has started to lay the first milestones by working on the definition of numerical indicators, in particular on phytosanitary products, water and packaging. “The first data collected since this summer highlight numerous advances in these areas,” says Pierre Meliet.

“100% of relations between companies and market gardeners are strictly regulated by precise specifications, including a specific section devoted to controlling the use of phytosanitary products,” he explains. Most partner farmers benefit from certification for their sustainable practices and the rate of salad suppliers with the “Global Gap” (Good Agricultural Practices) label is 92%. »

Regarding the control of water resources, the union indicates that companies have initiated concrete actions and reduced their water consumption by 30% in 4 years. Finally, companies continue to work to reduce the environmental footprint of their packaging. “The thickness of salad bags has already lost 20% in 5 years,” he adds. On the food market, salads thus have “the lowest ratio” of packaging weight/number of portions.