Bizerba, the leading provider of technology solutions for handling fresh food, commissioned a survey of consumer behavior in Germany at the start of the worlds most important trade fair, EuroShop in Dusseldorf. The central questions were: What is the importance of fresh food? wher do the Germans like to shop most? And, how important is the price? The representative study was conducted in February 2017 by the market research institute OpinionWay in Germany.

Despite the sharp increase in the price of fresh food in 2016 (vegetable prices grew by 10.7 percent, fruit by 4.6 percent), 41 percent of respondents said they consume more fresh products now than they did five years ago. More than half (53 percent) named increased awareness as their reason for following a healthier diet. The average budget spent on fresh produce is €131 per month. 44 percent of the interviewees said that they spend less than 100 euros on fresh produce. In general, the majority were satisfied with the amount they paid for fresh food.

As reasons for why they prefer pre-packaged foods to fresh products, the consumers included, among other things, the more extensive information given for pre-packaged items regarding origin, ingredients and an indication of possible allergens, as well as the best-before date. In addition to the price and offers, the quality of the product as well as the appearance and the origin of the product are given as key factors for the purchasing of fresh food.

The study was conducted in February 2017 with more than 1,000 participants. The detailed results will be available at the Bizerba booth at EuroShop (hall 6, booth 8) and will be available in English on request.