As demand continues to increase around the world for healthy fresh cut snacks, Hebe Frukt & Grönt AB had been looking to the European market for some time to find the best fit for the Swedish market.
"We started with a small line back in spring of 2016 with hand sliced and halved fruit and have continued to launch new products ever since. The ”HebeBägare” (fruit mixes in snack sized packaging) were released this spring after a couple of months on trial in test stores. The production room started with a small space and a simple machine, which is used only for packaging, and as the sales have increased, we've invested in more space and more advanced machines," shared Anita Jansson from Hebe.
The company offers several varieties, such as; Melonmix (Galia, Honeydew and cantaloupe), Fruit mix (oranges, gala melon, strawberries and fresh mint), Exotic Mix (mango, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries and strawberries). Along with the mixes, they also supply snack packs containing all the most popular fruits, such as pineapple, mango and watermelon. Out of their offering, Anita said that the Berrymix (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries) is their most popular product, with the exotic mix coming in at a close second.
The melon slices are offered by Hebe all year round and the most common varieties are Galia, Honey dew, cantaloupe and watermelon. Anita said that the packaging of sliced melons means they're more accessible for consumers, making them easier to grab and go, without the hassle of cutting and slicing. Whole melons are often too much for people to consume, so the snack sizes take away this obstacle as well.
"The most popular melon in Sweden during summer is, of course, the watermelon but only if the weather is warm and sunny. For midsummer and other celebrations, sugar melons like Galia and Cantaloupe are very popular. Otherwise I would say the yellow Honeymelon is still the most popular in Sweden. It´s well known, has a long shelf-life and is often good in price," said Anita.
"During summer we import melons from Europe (mostly Spain) and in the autumn we go overseas to mostly Brazil but also Costa Rica and Honduras. We just got our first shipment from Brazil this week. The taste during summer is best from Spain and we are also able to get our hands on sweet new varieties like Orange Candy and Snowball. "
Anita said that they are also planning on offering some organic fruit mixes in the future as a response to consumer demand.
