Recently, economic conditions have caused a decline in demand from European consumers. With shoppers’ budgets shrinking, producers must adjust their programs to align with the current situation. At UNICA Group, they have responded swiftly:
“In certain products, there has been a readjustment because some supermarkets have removed certain lines from their shelves,” explains Carlos Moral, Head of Organics.
On the other hand, the second-tier cooperative is strengthening its organic line in specific areas. Following the incorporation of Surinver, UNICA has extended its pepper calendar and started working with brassicas.
“This opens up new opportunities with the addition of new regions and products we didn’t have before.”
Moral believes that organic consumption will stabilize in the coming years.
“We need to do good work at the source and tackle the challenges we face, particularly in some crops. The offering needs to be reorganized around true specialists with programming and experience in the sector.” In supermarket chains, certain lines will undergo a realignment.
“There are very stable products with high demand that continue to perform well in sales. Cucumber, pepper, zucchini, watermelon, and broccoli are strong lines within the organic range. Organic avocado could also be an interesting line to explore.”
UNICA Agribusiness Centre
With innovation as one of its key pillars, UNICA is finalizing the construction of its new Agribusiness Centre, set to open at the end of 2025. It aims to become a benchmark in competitiveness and knowledge transfer.
The project will foster external collaboration with auxiliary entities, universities, seed developers, and more, driving constant innovation and staying ahead of the market.
The facility will include:
- A farmer training school.
- A commercial laboratory.
- A supermarket simulator.
Start-up developers, a nursery, and collaborative areas for companies and organizations.
The center will also feature an area dedicated to organic cultivation, greenhouses of various types (showcase, high-tech multitunnel, mid-tech), an industrial kitchen, showcooking and training spaces, and a marketing and business development laboratory.
