Schwan's - Competitors

Schwan's Competition

Now Viewing Schwan's's competition in: Fruit and Vegetable Processing (primary)

Recent Developments

Asian Markets Drive US Potato Export Growth - US potato exports increased 11 percent to a record $1.1 billion in the 2007-2008 marketing year over the 2006-2007 marketing year. Aggressive marketing caused more restaurants and supermarkets to serve and stock potato products, according to the United States Potato Board (USPB). Frozen potatoes, the largest export category, posted a 20 percent increase in sales. Frozen potato exports grew significantly in target Asian markets, including Malaysia, up 69 percent, Thailand and Indonesia, both up about 30 percent, followed by China and Hong Kong, up 22 percent, according to USPB.

Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Seek Inclusion in Government Nutrition Programs - The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has asked for frozen products to be included as an approved food for the USDA's child nutrition programs and the program for women, infants, and children known as WIC. AFFI submitted comments in October 2008 to the USDA, arguing that frozen foods such as fruits and vegetables are often as nutritionally beneficial as fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen foods are presently excluded from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program. Congress will review the nutritional programs in 2009, when the legislation is set to expire. Inclusion in certain government nutrition programs may increase sales to schools for makers of frozen fruits and vegetables.

Top Cranberry Producers in Patent Dispute over Dried Cranberries - US cranberry industry leader Ocean Spray filed a federal patent infringement lawsuit in October 2008 against a top competitor, Decas Cranberry Products, over its dried cranberry process. The complaint accuses Decas of using Ocean Spray's 1994 patented process to create its Decas Premium Sweetened Dried Cranberries. Decas, the second-largest producer of dried cranberries in the US behind Ocean Spray, denies the claim. Decas says it obtained its own patents for its dried cranberry processing method when it began selling dried cranberries in 1998 to other food manufacturers. A ruling in favor of Ocean Spray could restrict competition in the cranberry processing market, which has been growing.

Competitive Landscape

Demand is driven by food consumption, which depends on population growth. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations because products are commodities subject to intense price competition. Companies compete largely based on cost and their ability to distribute the finished product. Large companies have advantages in distribution operations. Small companies can compete effectively in local or regional markets.

Full Industry Overview For Fruit and Vegetable Processing

Fruit and Vegetable Processing Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US frozen foods and canned and dried fruits and vegetables, an indicator for fruit and vegetable processing, is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 5.5 percent between 2008 and 2013.

Canned, Frozen Food Processing Growth Flattens

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.