Butcher Westy gave a demonstration at Clark’s Family Butchers. The aim was to work together to develop concepts that meet the needs and wishes of a rejuvenated neighbourhood.
Rody’s seasoned view on reformulating ready-meals
‘The World of Food Ingredients’ trade journal regularly contains articles written by partners in which they share their knowledge of and vision regarding relevant themes. Recently, Rody de Wolf, Innovation Manager of the Epos Food Family (which includes Dutch Spices), was interviewed and asked his views on the theme ‘Reformulating ready-meals’. His well-seasoned view was included in the April/May issue alongside those of several other professionals.
Striking trends and evolving tastes
Rody: “There are some striking trends in ready-meals. We are seeing a growing demand for meals that contain fewer allergens and less salt and make more use of natural ingredients. At the same time prices are under pressure and, on top of that, there is a shift towards Asian flavours such as curry and korma. These developments are being driven by consumers who are opting for a healthier diet and lifestyle, such as halal or vegan. Plant-based meals and meal components are becoming more and more popular. As a manufacturer of seasonings we are offering products that dovetail perfectly with these trends.”
A cleaner label
Rody also expressed his views on ready-meal labelling: “Although considerable use of the Nutri-Score nutrition rating system is being made by start-ups and smaller companies this is far less the case at an industrial level. Retailers are giving preference to clearer labelling – also known as ‘cleaner labelling’ – in respect of preservatives. At the same time the industry is striving to combat food wastage by extending shelf-life.”
Read the full article here. You will find Rody’s story on page 50.