Today free-from already means high quality

By: Budai Klára Date: 2023. 06. 02. 10:24

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2023/5

Gyopár Géger, brand manager of PICK:

Gyopár Géger
brand manager
Bonafarm

“There is a difference between one kind of meat and another. Bonafarm Group and MCS Vágóhíd Zrt. have teamed up to do development work, the result of which was premium PICK Fresh meat products appearing on store shelves at the end of 2018, which are characterised by high added value”.

PICK pays special attention to inform shoppers about product benefits. Consumers can be sure that the meat comes from 100% GMO-free production, and the pigs were fed with antibiotic-free animal feed, in good conditions attested by an animal welfare certificate”.

A necessity, a fad or a matter of ethics: the consumer base keeps expanding

Large vegan product selection at home and in restaurants

METRO has reacted to the new consumer needs early, and they invested lots of energy in developing plant-based food and popularising plant-based dishes in restaurants.

Tímea Tulkán
own brand and commercial activities
METRO

Tímea Tulkán, own brand and commercial activities manager of METRO:

“It is the METRO Chef Veggie brand that collects our products which satisfy the needs of vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian consumers. At the moment there are two main product groups under this brand: plant-based meat alternatives and plant-based drinks. Plus a growing number of suppliers are contacting us to list their gluten-, dairy-, egg-, meat- or sugar-free products”.

The manager added that in this financial year sales of free-from products rose by 64% from last year. This year’s new products are METRO Chef Veggie plant-based drinks in rice, coconut, almond, and barista oat versions, large-sized ARO breakfast cereals for hospitality partners, and 500g METRO Chef preservative-free, sliced chicken breast ham.

In the plant-based substitutes market, not only A-brand but also private label product developments are well underway

Authentic meat flavours – meat-free

Retail chains are increasingly open to listing meat alternatives.

Péter Szappanos
CEO
Pápai Hús

Péter Szappanos, CEO of Pápai Hús Kft.:

“There are already private labels being developed, which also proves that partners see potential in this product group”.

Shoppers like the company’s cold cuts and frankfurter the most. Recently Pápai-Hús put a vegan liver paté and 2 salamis (delicatessen and hot) on the market. A vegan steak and a kebab is already in the pipeline – these are real meat analogues, offering authentic flavours.

The high animal welfare certificate is a proof of sound housing conditions

Salads in small size

Eisberg Hungary Kft. produces salads, which are free-from by nature, and the vegetables they use aren’t in contact with allergens during preparation, washing and packaging either.

Judit Szalai
sales and marketing manager
Eisberg Hungary

Sales and marketing manager Judit Szalai:

“We make those salads that contain allergens in a separate hall in our factory, so even gluten-sensitive consumers can buy our packaged salads. The prices of Eisberg salads has increased less than the fruit-vegetable inflation reported by the Central Statistical Office, and thanks to this demand hasn’t dropped for them”.

Since the pandemic there has been growing demand for small-sized bagged salads. Shoppers can already choose from four of these practical salad mixes: the Ranch and Farmer mixes contain cabbage, while My Salad and Your Salad are both tasty and exciting – the latter two have been especially popular recently. //