French fries on trend - record sales for potato products
The appetite for chips, potato salad and potato chips rose to a new record high in the 2022/23 marketing year. In the period ending in June, people ate an average of 37.9 kilograms of potato products per capita, according to the Federal Institute of Food and Agriculture in Bonn on Friday.
This is the highest figure since recording began in the 1990/91 marketing year, when per capita consumption was 29.1 kilograms. The previous record was reached in 2017/18, when the population in Germany ate an average of 36.8 kilograms of potato products. French fries, potato salad and potato chips are by far the largest categories of potato products.
The federal authority cites increased demand following the coronavirus pandemic as one reason for the rise in sales. More people are eating out again, said a spokeswoman. "The fact that potato products, especially frozen products, are usually prepared more quickly than fresh potatoes may also play a role."
At the same time, around four kilograms fewer fresh potatoes were eaten in 2022/23 than in the previous year. Per capita consumption was 16.2 kilograms, the lowest level since data collection began in 1990/91. The total consumption of potatoes and potato products was therefore 54.1 kilograms per capita, which is also a new low. Total consumption has fallen by 28 percent since 1990/91, as rice and pasta are increasingly being used, said the spokesperson. At that time, 75 kilograms of potatoes were still consumed per capita per year in Germany, including almost 46 kilograms of fresh potatoes.
A total of 10.7 million tons of potatoes were produced in Germany in 2022/23. Due to the heat and drought, the volume was reportedly 5.6 percent below the previous year's figure.
Consumers' interest in nutrition and health-conscious eating hasn't diminished, as evidenced by the growing demand for nutritious potato products. For instance, some manufacturers have started incorporating vegetables into their french fries to offer consumers more nutritional value.
With the rise in popularity of food delivery services and ready-to-eat meals, the convenience of prepared potato products like fries and chips has become increasingly appealing to modern consumers seeking to balance their busy lifestyles with good food choices.
Source: www.dpa.com
