Quality comes first
When consumers think of fresh food, they expect excellent quality. Fresh produce should look like it came straight from the field and taste authentic. For fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood in particular, shoppers look for visual indicators of freshness such as color, firmness and lack of damage.
Freshness is measured not only by appearance, but also by taste. Nothing disappoints consumers more than a bland product that looks fresh but does not live up to its promise. As a result, customers expect their products to lose as little quality as possible from harvest or production to sale.
Nutrient content & naturalness
In today's world of healthy eating and lifestyle choices, consumers expect fresh foods to be nutritious. They want products that have been processed as little as possible to preserve vitamins, minerals and natural flavors.
In addition to nutrients, consumers are increasingly sensitive to how food is processed. They are looking for products without artificial additives, preservatives or excessive packaging. The search for naturalness and authenticity is stronger than ever.
Convenience in a fast-paced world
Despite the high demands on quality and nutrients, consumers do not want to compromise on convenience. Fresh food must be easily and quickly available, preferably ready to eat. "Fresh ready meals" are a perfect solution here, as they make it possible to enjoy healthy, fresh meals with minimal effort.
Packaging technologies play a decisive role here. Only with the right packaging can freshness and taste be preserved over a longer period of time without the use of preservatives.
Sustainability & environmental awareness
More and more consumers are concerned about sustainability. They expect fresh food to be not only of high quality, but also packaged and produced in an environmentally friendly way. Biodegradable materials, reduced use of plastic and transparency of origin are factors that determine which products many consumers buy.
