oranje fruit en groentes normec foodcare

Partner in testing, inspection & compliance

NormecFoodcare » Quality measurements » Quality in the Supermarket

Quality in the Supermarket

The best place to assess what the consumer truly experiences when they shop for food, is the supermarket shelf. That is why we measure the quality of supermarket products for you, in the exact same way a consumer would experience them when buying them.

The quality of Fresh Produce fluctuates throughout the year. It is largely determined by seasonal influences and choices made during production, in the supply chain and on the shop floor. Think, for example, of the sugar content and firmness of strawberries in the winter, or the impact of a week with tropical temperatures on the quality of the fruit and vegetables in the summer. To ensure that the quality is always constant, we measure it in the supermarket for you.

To measure is to know

Optimising the flavour and shelf life of fresh products is a never-ending challenge, which is why we monitor quality on a weekly basis. Each week, we buy products in supermarkets and analyse them in our lab.

The reports are short and to the point, and immediately implementable. Supermarket chains and their suppliers use these reports to continuously analyse the quality of their products and to implement improvements in the supply chain.

Quality in the Supermarket in short

Buying products in the supermarket
Quality measurements “through the eyes of the consumer”
A clear report each week: get started right away

We help to ensure that your products in the supermarket are of constant quality

Contact our Director Quality & Business DevelopmentKarin Gorree

Contact

Measuring through the eyes of the consumer

We measure quality “through the eyes of the consumer”. In our programmes, we measure the aspects that really make a difference for consumers, such as sugar content, texture, dry matter content, viscosity and water activity.

In addition, we measure a series of product-specific aspects. For strawberries, we measure defects; for tomatoes, the colour; and for ready-to-cook vegetables, the recipe. Each measurement is combined with a flavour assessment. This process creates a 360-degree picture of the product: a combination of concrete measurements and flavour and appearance assessments.

A selection of our measurements

Flavour	Appearance
Sugar content (Brix)	Sizing
Acid (titratable)	Colour
Acidity (pH)	Damage and marks
Dry matter	Defects
Texture (pressure)	Freshness score
Water activity (Aw)	Appearance score
Viscosity
Juice percentage
Flavour score

Improve the quality of your products

Our specialists will gladly help you monitor and improve the quality of your products. That way, you are guaranteed to offer a constant level of quality. Feel free to contact us to find out what we can do for you.

Karin Gorree

Director Quality & Business Development

Contact

Normec Foodcare is your partner in Fresh Produce

We help you to ensure that the quality of your fruit and vegetables is of the right level. With our knowledge and over 25 years of experience, you are guaranteed the best sparring partner. We have in-house inspectors, measure the quality of Fresh Produce in supermarkets, offer quality training and perform Fresh Produce shelf life tests. Check out the complete overview of Fresh Produce services we offer here.