Shelf‑stable vegetables play a crucial role in how consumers eat today. With busy lifestyles and rising costs, people are looking for convenient, good‑value products that still support a healthy, varied diet. Many worry about not eating enough produce, and in the US, for example, 63% of category users say they’re concerned about the health effects of low fruit and vegetable intake1. At the same time, they want options that help reduce food waste and fit smaller households.
Globally, shelf‑stable vegetables are expected to grow in both value and volume as consumers seek convenient cooking ingredients and easy ways to add more plants to their diets2. The winners will be the brands, co‑packers and private‑label retailers that can innovate faster, launch with confidence and scale efficiently.
That calls for a connected innovation journey – from consumer insight and early concepts, through recipe development and pack design, to industrialisation. Whether you’re expanding a private‑label range, modernising classic vegetable staples or moving from cans and jars to cartons, we work with you to define a clear, insight‑driven path forward. From first idea to vegetables on the shelf, these seven steps show how we can drive your growth in shelf‑stable vegetables.
From rising interest in convenient plant‑based meals to demand for good‑value pantry staples, success in vegetables starts with understanding where demand is moving. Processed vegetables are increasingly used to save time in home cooking, and many consumers rely on multiple packaged ingredients each month3.
Instead of relying on assumptions, you can tap into our global consumer and market insights on shelf‑stable food. We help you sift through the data to pinpoint demand spaces, consumption occasions and unmet needs – for example, quick side dishes, meal‑prep shortcuts or cost‑efficient alternatives.
From here, we work with you to define your winning niche and jointly scope what success looks like, from relevant KPIs to timelines and target markets, so your next moves are grounded in real insights rather than intuition.
Next, it’s time to turn those insights into tangible ideas in a workshop at one of our Customer Innovation Centres. You bring your product ambitions – such as revitalising classic mixed vegetables or introducing more exotic vegetables to new markets – and we bring consumer insights, trend intelligence, brand expertise and packaging knowledge.
Using proven ideation tools and early mock‑ups, we co‑create and refine vegetable concepts and packaging directions that fit your brand, your consumers and your commercial goals.
This collaborative process lets you move from abstract ideas to testable concepts before you commit to detailed formulations and full design development.
Once your vegetable concepts are defined, the next step is to turn them into recipes that perform – on the shelf, in the kitchen and on the plate. That’s where the Tetra Recart® Food Development Centre becomes your development co-pilot. Whether in Lund, Sweden, or via our mobile testing unit at your site, our chefs and food experts help you transform concepts and insights into recipes optimised for Tetra Recart retortable cartons.
Together we clarify what you want to achieve – from texture, taste and colour to salt levels, added flavours and portion formats – and address any technical hurdles. We then plan and run focused trials with carefully selected ingredients. As we test and refine, you review multiple options and provide feedback. You’ll leave with final samples and clear recommendations, ready to support your launch and scale‑up plans.
Tetra Recart offers your vegetable products a distinctive visual presence that helps them stand out on shelf and online. Optimised design makes your package a true “silent salesperson” – quickly communicating key benefits.
Supported by our design expertise, your Tetra Recart package becomes a powerful asset for differentiation. We apply principles that help your brand get noticed and understood:
- Spotlight your story: Focus on two to three core messages on the front panel – for example, “ready to use”, “no added preservatives” or “source of vegetables” – to cut through shelf noise.
- Use category cues wisely: Make it immediately clear that your product is a vegetable offer (single‑veg or mix), while still standing out and signalling freshness and quality.
- Engage every side: Use the carton’s surfaces for storytelling, usage instructions, recycling information and on‑pack recipes that inspire new ways to use your vegetables.
- Strengthen on‑shelf impact: Design packs so they work together, creating a strong “billboard” effect when multiple cartons sit side by side.
- Use colour intelligently: Apply colour and ink thoughtfully to reinforce brand identity and support your sustainability strategy.
By balancing familiar category cues with distinctive design – and leveraging the 3D shape of the carton – you can give vegetables a modern, appealing presence.
How do you bring your vegetable products to shelves without unnecessary capital costs and operational complexity?
Tetra Recart offers industrialisation options that support a smooth journey from pilot to commercial production:
- Build your own: If you’re ready to invest in in‑house capability, streamline your process with Tetra Recart filling lines designed for efficient operation and a compact footprint.
- Connect with co‑packers: If you prefer an asset‑light route, use our network of experienced co‑packers, matched to your specific needs, who can reduce upfront investment and put your products on shelves faster.
- Integrated processing expertise: We bring processing know‑how to help you design heat treatment, mixing and filling processes that protect product quality and food safety.
- Smart packaging, smarter logistics: Flat‑packed Tetra Recart cartons are space‑efficient, helping to free up warehouse space and reduce shipping costs, which can support profitability and lower emissions4.
- A full‑service supplier: Tetra Pak coordinates across development, trials and production, combining materials, equipment and services to make your journey toward launch more efficient and less risky.
For many vegetable brands and private labels, co‑packers are a strategic shortcut to market – especially when you want to move quickly, manage risk and avoid large capital investments.
Tetra Pak uses its global knowledge and network to match you with experienced Tetra Recart co‑packers that fit your needs, from product type and recipe complexity to quality requirements and geography. We understand the capabilities and capacities across our co‑packer network and can recommend the right partners for your ambitions.
With the right co‑packer in place, you can test and scale new vegetable concepts faster, secure efficient production and focus your resources on brand‑building and portfolio growth.
Read more about how to find the right co‑packing partner for your prepared vegetables.
Our support extends beyond launch. We can assist with crucial preparations such as finalising pack design, crafting compelling messaging and preparing retailer presentations for your vegetable range.
Once your products are on shelf, we can help you interpret performance data and consumer feedback to understand how they are perceived and used. This ongoing learning allows you to refine communication, evolve pack design, optimise distribution choices and, where appropriate, adjust your recipes over time – for example, to better highlight naturalness, respond to price sensitivities or support flexitarian positioning.
This focus on continuous improvement helps your shelf‑stable vegetable innovations reach their full potential. In a category where convenience, value, health and sustainability all matter, Tetra Recart gives you a platform to keep adapting and growing.
1 Kantar Profiles / Mintel, February 2023 and March 2021; Dynata / Mintel, June 2023.
2 GlobalData, Addressable core and opportunistic categories (beans and vegetables); Euromonitor International, category outlook data as cited in the Tetra Pak “Beans and Vegetables” trend report
3 IpsosFacto, 2024.
4 12% more 390ml packages, and up to 50% more 100ml packages on each pallet and truck. Based on internal simulations comparing Tetra Recart to cans and jars of equivalent sizes.