Fruits and vegetables are essential components of a balanced diet because they offer a variety of nutrients that support overall health. Fruits like apples, oranges, and berries are often consumed raw and are usually sweet or sour. Packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they boost immunity, aid in digestion, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. On the other hand, veggies are usually more savory, whether they are cooked or raw. They can be leafy greens like spinach, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, or root vegetables like potatoes and carrots.
GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market Driving Factors and Challenges
Drivers: Product sales are rising due to the growing popularity of online grocery shopping and delivery services. Customers who are health-conscious are increasingly choosing meal kit delivery over grocery delivery since it provides a range of fruit and vegetable combinations based on the customer's requirements. Single members of Generation X and Millennials are the main buyers of these meal boxes. Additionally, as populations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have grown, so has the demand for imported staple goods. Arid climates, declining groundwater levels, and salt of the soil are some of the causes of this reliance.
Challenges: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market for fruits and vegetables faces several challenges that impact both production and supply. One of the primary issues is the harsh environment of the area, which makes it challenging to grow a wide variety of fresh produce locally because of the extreme heat and lack of arable soil. Because of its reliance on imports to meet demand, a nation is more vulnerable to trade restrictions, price fluctuations, and disruptions in the global supply chain. Water is a scarce resource that is heavily relied upon by the region's agriculture sector, thus limiting local production potential. Another challenge is the high cost of labor and modern farming technology, which drives up the price of locally grown produce relative to imported alternatives.
Impact of COVID-19 on GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market
The COVID-19 epidemic had a major effect on the fruits and vegetables market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), upsetting consumer demand, labor availability, and supply chains. The region experienced delays in imports due to global transportation limitations, especially from major suppliers including Egypt, India, and Southeast Asia. The temporary shutdown of farms during lockdowns and manpower shortages also had an impact on local production. Consumer behavior also changed, with retail grocery sales rising while demand fluctuated as the foodservice industries (hotels and restaurants) briefly closed. Produce that was packaged and shelf-stable was more popular in the market, but there were still issues with availability and price stability.
GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market Key Players:
The market study provides market data by competitive landscape, revenue analysis, market segments and detailed analysis of key market players are; Spinneys Dubai LLC, Carrefour Group, Lulu Group International, Choithrams LLC, AL Maya Group, Grandiose Retail, West Zone Group, AI Manama Group, Others.
GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market Segmentation:
By Product Type: Based on the Product Type, GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market is segmented as; Fruits, Vegetables.
By Distribution Channel: Based on the Distribution Channel, GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market is segmented as; Fruits, Vegetables.
By End User: Based on the End User, GCC Fruits and Vegetables Market is segmented as; Household Consumption, Food Processing Industry, HoReCa, Others.
By Region: This research also includes data for United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Rest of GCC.
This study also encompasses various drivers and restraining factors of this market for the forecast period. Various growth opportunities are also discussed in the report.