Translations

BONDUELLE takes part in the european research project VEGGIEAT

6. Clients and consumers

Client and consumer health and safety

Sector Food-processing

Year 2018

Country France

Transmitter

Context

Founded in 1853 in northern France, the family-owned Bonduelle Group supplies consumers in more than 100 countries with products preserved using natural processes. In 2013, its 10,000 employees share an entrepreneurial vision that serves one goal, known as the VegeGO! project: to be the world reference in ‘well-living’ through vegetable products by 2025.

Against this backdrop, Bonduelle participated in the European research project VeggiEAT, which seeks to promote vegetable consumption at different stages of life.

Objectives

To jointly develop methods for ascertaining the perceptions and preferences of particular populations (children and seniors)
To measure the impact of culture on consumers' perceptions of vegetables
To promote vegetable consumption at different stages of life

APPROACH

Bonduelle partnered with three European universities (in Bournemouth, England; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Florence, Italy) and the Research Center at the Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon, France. This consortium of academic and private institutions was granted a budget of 1.6 million euros by the European Commission for the 2013–2017 period. Experts in sensory science, consumer science, vegetable physiology and nutritional science were greatly involved in the project.

Over the course of four years, researches visited institutional food-service establishments in each country to interview adolescents and seniors. First, they sought to understand what underlies their perceptions and preferences for certain vegetables, in order to develop "ideal" products. Next, they focused on the impact the consumption environment had on their choice of ideal products, particularly the type of menu (standard or with special dishes) offered at institutional establishments.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Insight into consumers' dietary habits and expectations
Expertise sharing on a European level

Benefits

Identification of levers to encourage vegetable consumption among adolescents and seniors
International broadening of knowledge
Improved cooperation Europe-wide