Italian retailer and cooperative Conad has installed a greenhouse-like 'grow unit' in order to grow and sell 'superfoods' directly in stores.
The 'Microgreen' project, using Cefla Shopfitting's Grow Unit equipment, has been launched in the Le Befane and Puntadiferro hypermarkets in Rimini and Forli.
Rapid Growth
Located in the fruit and vegetables department, the Grow Unit is a greenhouse-like structure integrated into the shelves that, thanks to specially designed LED lighting and irrigation, will allow micro-vegetables to grow in just 7 days and all year round.
Each low-energy consumption greenhouse produces around 20 packs a day, with a sales price of €1.79 each.
The types of vegetables grown in-store include mustard, watercress, daikon radish, red cabbage, red radish and rocket.
According to Conad, the project represents a real evolution in the supply of fresh and healthy foods to consumers. The microgreens contain nutrients and vitamins up to 40 times higher than normal vegetables, which is why they are called superfoods.
Increasing Fresh Offer
The Grow Unit is a new element in large retailers' fresh produce offering, helping to satisfy consumers who are increasingly concerned with food freshness and quality.
The innovative equipment was developed in collaboration with C-LED, Cefla’s business unit specialising in LED light technologies, following a study conducted with the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Bologna.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
