Fresh foods wholesaler Fresh Direct has seen sales of prepared produce grow by more than 10% in the past year, with chefs gradually seeking more time-saving products in the kitchen.
The pre-prepared sector is said to be helping address some of the problems caused by staff shortages, and includes products that can be sliced, diced, shredded, quartered or cut into many different sizes and shapes to suit a variety of dishes and menus.
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The Sysco wholesaler has responded to the increase in demand for ready to eat prepared lines, with the launch of shredded white cabbage, red cabbage and Savoy which are washed and ready to eat for making slaws and salads. It has also introduced new vegetable mixes, such as roast veg mix and creative slaws such as the new rainbow slaw.
Paul Nieduszynski, chief executive for Sysco GB, said: “Supporting chefs is at the heart of what we do, so providing a range of products that make back-of-house prep more efficient fits right into that.
“With staff shortages still a major issue across the foodservice industry, the demand for prepped products is growing fast. We continue to innovate to provide the products that make a real difference to chefs, prepared to a high specification and supporting chefs where and when they need it most. In many cases, we’ve been able to work with customers to develop bespoke products for them,” he added.
