Consumption trends launch value-added products

More than 40 value-added seafood products — including stuffed seafood and ready-to-grill cuttlefish — have been developed as a result of an initiative that is studying current consumption trends.

A presentation on the “Conservapesca” project, developed by a consortium of Spanish companies, was given on Day 1 of Seafood Barcelona. The project, which ends this year, has public-private funding of more than EUR 5 million (USD 6.89 million).

Juan Luis Mejías, food and drinks area manager of Abelló Linde, one of the consortium companies, explained that they focused on the study of tunas and cephalopods, with dynamic packaging as one of the research fields. According to Mejías, “it is the traditional packing adding up some properties.” The project also worked on product conservation, trying to extend their shelf life, as well as on new equipment for the exploitation of the byproduct.

“Everything must connect with the consumer,” said Mejías.

Surgenia, a design technological center, was in charge of achieving this connection. Fátima Sarmiento, responsible for the Observatory of Design Trends, pointed out the importance of analyzing the market. After this analysis, a list of seven food and agriculture trends was developed. Sarmiento explained the trends are “attitudes that are revealed in today’s society. They are ways of consuming.”

Among these attitudes are ecologically aware people, those who like to take care of themselves and the economic-efficient. She also pointed out several key factors such as the grocery shopping experience at home and the change of the family structure. These trends were analyzed in the project for every specific development. Sarmiento said “it is important to know how they want to show themselves in the market and to do it with a clear and different position.”

Mejías highlighted the fact that “technical realities have become commercial realities, the effectiveness of multiple combined solutions in the dynamic packing has been proved and, in short, new possibilities and differential solutions open their way.”

Subscribe

Want seafood news sent to your inbox?

You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101 | +1 207-842-5500
None