Dole Launches ‘Consumer Compass 2026’ Research Project
August 18, 2025 | 2 min to read
Dole's landmark initiative, Consumer Compass 2026, was launched in Copenhagen to enhance fresh fruit and vegetable consumption across Europe. The comprehensive study will gather insights from approximately ten thousand consumers in eleven countries, using extensive research and stakeholder engagement to ensure actionable data. CEO Niels Klem Thomsen emphasized the importance of understanding consumer needs to align with expectations, with results expected at Fruit Logistica 2026.
Landmark initiative is dedicated to leveraging best-in-class consumer insights to drive fresh fruit and vegetable consumption across Europe
Dole Koge, in Copenhagen, Denmark played host on Tuesday last, to the official launch of Dole’s landmark ‘Consumer Compass 2026’ research project. Dedicated to garnering practical insights into the drivers of consumer behaviour with respect to all things fresh produce, the initiative will cover eleven countries and sample some ten thousand European consumers. As such, it is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative fresh produce research projects being conducted across the European marketplace.
It is not only the expansive reach of the research that sets Consumer Compass apart, but also the depth of analysis applied. Extensive secondary research, alongside deep dive stakeholder and thought leader engagement, complements the primary data collated to elicit more insightful, authoritative and ultimately actionable data. Produced in partnership with Kairos Future, Consumer Compass 2026 will be the fifth edition of this research and will build on the findings from three earlier reports.
The occasion of the launch in Koge also saw the coming together of the first research working group, the body dedicated to defining the ambitions, parameters and key deliverables from this pioneering research. In attendance were commercial, marketing, sustainability, packaging and procurement personnel from across Dole’s operations in Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, the UK, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands as well as representatives from Doles research partners.
Speaking of the initiative, Niels Klem Thomsen, CEO of Dole Nordic, notes:
‘Better serving the consumer begins with better understanding the consumer. In Dole, we are absolutely committed to meeting and exceeding consumers expectations and those of our customers. We believe wholeheartedly in the potential of our sector and we know that harnessing untapped opportunities across fresh produce requires ever greater alignment with consumers. So we are very much looking forward to constructively contributing to this pioneering research and sharing the results with our partners in produce across Europe in the months ahead.’
The results of Consumer Compass 2026 will be released to coincide with Fruit Logistica 2026.