National lockdown boosts SA’s canning industry

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has had a significant impact on the purchasing behaviour of consumers.

“Through all the restrictions and lockdown measures, it seems that consumers have penned the word ‘canned food’ in on their shopping lists,” said Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association.

He told Farmer’s Weekly that since the pandemic hit South Africa, there had been a definite increase in demand for canned products, including canned fruit.

“Demand in local supermarkets has been good. I suspect that since the products are preserved and has a long shelf life, it counted in our favour. However, our exports did experience a [decline].”

Jordaan stressed that it was not due to the industry not being allowed to export, but due to logistical problems. “Logistical challenges range from traveling restrictions and border closures to the fact that only basic food are allowed [to be traded]. Congestion at ports is causing havoc with shortages of containers and ships travelling to and from Europe.”

While the current circumstances were beneficial to the industry, Jordaan stressed that the major challenge would be to ensure that the industry capitalised on this opportunity.

“We have to influence consumers’ perception of canned fruit in order to keep [these] products on their future shopping lists.”

He said he believed the industry would have to be more innovative to change the perception of canned fruit from the image of “just being a sweet dessert”.

He pointed out that there were several innovative products on the market such as Del Monte’s fruit cups. This range consisted of mandarin slices in passion fruit water, peach and pear chunks in elderflower water, and pineapple chunks in coconut water or green tea.

“Locally, we will have to try to provide something for consumers that will change their minds about the products, and make them aware of the nutritional value they hold.” – Jeandré van der Walt