Retail Market Week 10
/QUICKLINKS
BANANA OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
The national banana cut last week was significantly impacted by the blow through of the tropical low, known as Cyclone Niran, with a decrease of 24.4% which equated to -112,207 cartons less than the previous week. National production was expected to be within the range of 450-470K cartons however with the devastating wind storm causing an average industry loss of 20-25% this was definitely not achievable. It is important to note that the impact of this tropical low varied greatly at an individual level; with some smaller to medium sized farms suffering a much greater percentage loss. In the days immediately following the weather event, affected growers spent a great deal of time salvaging fruit from bent bunches, mulching, tidying and repairing their farms. The weather in the past week has been milder with minimum temperatures ranging 19.4 - 26.0C and maximum day temps of 29.4 to 32.4C. The rain has continued to fall intermittently in North Qld with recordings of 10 -15 mm in Mareeba, Innisfail and Tully across the week; and a further 41mm fell in Walkamin since last Wednesday.
Quality on shelf this week was very disappointing with grey to bronzed dull, marked fruit being a common finding. The presence of dull fruit perhaps relates to fruit age and storage conditions. On our own farms, we continue to grade heavily for bat scratching with this issue expected for another four to five weeks. Waste relating to grade outs of bat marked fruit continues to be in the vicinity of 30-35% of each days pack out - we will continue to be vigilant in this respect to ensure inclusion in our carton is kept to an acceptable level.
Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish varied between the major supermarkets and for a change Aldi did not have the cheapest ticket price. This week saw Aldi selling at $3.29/kg; Woolworths at $3.00/kg and Coles offering fruit at $3.00 to $3.50/kg dependent upon the store locality. As already stated, quality also varied greatly with a number of lines having visible skin marking including bat scratching, sap staining, rust thrip damage, neck injuries and rub marking.
BANANA SNAPSHOT
Left to Right: Woolworths, Aldi and Coles Cavendish Displays
AVOCADO OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
North Qld maintains the lead in production with their Shepard season accounting for 67% of total production last week; followed by New Zealand with 18%; Central Qld at 14% and the remaining 1% coming from Central NSW. Pricing has continued its downward trend as volumes increases in the market place. There were another couple of arrivals of NZ Hass last week with premium trays still selling in the range of $30 --$40/tray dependent upon size. Australian Shepard main sales for premium are in the range of $28 -$34/tray. Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $20 --$26 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $40 --$45/ctn and for class one and 2nds $10 --$30/ctn.
North Qld Shepard avocados are expected to again increase in numbers this coming week with a forecast of 240,000 trays from the region. In fact the forecast for the next four week period has the tray volume sitting between 240 - 250,000 per week. Presentation in stores this week was again generally good with fruit having good shape and glossy skins. A number of farms, including our own, have had issues with spotting bug, despite implementing preventative spraying programmes as well as control spraying as populations have been detected. We have reset our grading cameras and trained staff in detection, in an effort to remove as many affected pieces as possible.
The availability of suitably sized Australian Shepards for formulation of prepacks is seeing both the 5 pack options and 1kg bags starting to be stocked on supermarket shelves. Aldi this week still had NZ fruit filling their order for their 6 piece bags in most stores.
In terms of Shepard retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld price was a competitive $1.99 per piece; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Shepards ticketed at $2.00 ea whilst Coles in Qld had now swapped over to Shepards with a ticket of 2 for $4.00 or $2.20 singularly. The majority of fruit was of sound quality, odd findings of skin marking and a low level of lenticel damage.
AVOCADO SNAPSHOT
Left to Right: Woolworths Shepards, Aldi Shepards and Coles Shepards Avocados
Source: Avocados australia 2021 - avocado weekly dispatch forecast vs actual
STOCK IN STORES
QUICKLINKS
BANANAS AT ALDI
ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS
Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.29/kg - a degree of minor skin marking as well as at least one-third of the fruit spotting as well as multiple dull clusters.
The fruit was all quite ripe
ALDI CANNON HILL
Cavendish bananas at $3.29 - mixed condition and again stacking of fruit causes more skin damage - some very dull clusters found throughout the display and a few clusters that were spotting.
Lady Fingers at $5.99/kg - generally of good presentation, however significant sap staining.
Lil Snackers Kids 750g packs were $2.99.
ALDI GARDEN CITY
Had Cavendish bananas at $3.29/kg, 50-70% of fruit was quite backward; one third of display appeared to be carried fruit as it was spotting and quite marked.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99, all were green
BANANAS AT COLES
COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS
Cavendish bananas were not on display at all at this store, with minimal displays of only Lady Fingers at $7.90 and kids packs at $3.50
Both varieties had some backward fruit and minor skin marking
COLES CANNON HILL
Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50/kg, again dull, marked fruit on display, some clusters with wounds.
Kids packs were priced at $3.50 - these also exhibited some bad sap staining/bruising
Get in quick if you want a Lady Finger - one and only one ( were poorly stocked) priced at $7.90/kg
COLES GARDEN CITY
Cavendish priced at $3.00/kg , with approximately 40% of display being semi coloured fruit - a few clusters questionable being very dull or quite visibly marked.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg low stock, some clusters with minor bruising and rub; whilst Kids banded clusters ticketed at $3.50 each were bruised and also had experienced some bat damage
This Coles store also had two red tips clusters priced at $5.00/kg - again fruit very dull.
BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS
WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS
Cavendish bananas priced at $3.00/kg. Good colour and generally good bloom (odd cluster will dull bloom), light skin marking, some backward fruit.
Lil Sana/Kids packs at $3.00 some of which were quite marked and Lady Fingers at $7.50 again minor skin markings, bruising and rub.
WOOLWORTHS CANNON HILL
Cavendish bananas at $3.00/kg - odd cluster with light bat marking
Ladyfingers at $6.90/kg - fairly clean fruit but needed refilling.
Kids packs at $3.00, needed a refill
WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY
Cavendish were priced at $3.00/kg, some with marking
Red tips were at $3.90 of better quality than other stores visited, Lady Fingers at $7.50 half of the display was slightly backward but fruit appearance was generally clean (odd cluster with rust thrip marking) and kids packs at $3.00
Organic clusters displayed in basket were on a ticket special of $3.50/kg - stock had light skin marking.
INDEPENDENT STORE - SPUDS & PLUMS GARDEN CITY
Cavendish bananas at $1.99/kg fruit had good colour some light marking whilst Lady Fingers were selling at $7.99/kg - slightly backward but very good presentation.
AVOCADOS AT ALDI
ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS
Greenskins Shepard Avos count 23’s, stock presented in tray priced at $1.99
6 piece packs of Shepards were priced at $7.99
ALDI CANNON HILL
Obie Plantation Shepard Avos supplied by Deluca Banana Marketing priced at $1.99 - some light lenticel present and one piece with sunburn.
Prepack option was a mixture of NZ Hass 6 piece packs and new season Shepard 6 piece all priced at $7.99
ALDI GARDEN CITY
Greenskins count 23, packed on the 26th of Feb, making them 12 days old priced at $1.99 - a little russet found on the skins and some scarring.
Whilst ticketing says Shepard 6 packs, stock was actually NZ Hass in the Market 6 piece bags priced at $7.99
AVOCADOS AT COLES
COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS
Loose Ferraro Count 23 Shepards supplied by DBM and loose Kureen Count 23 Shepard avocados supplied by Rockridge selling singularly for $2.20 or 2 for $4.00. Fruit packed 25th and 26th Feb meaning it is 12-13 days old. Quality of both these lines was good.
1kg I’m Perfect nets selling for $7.50 ea - contain Australian Shepard avocados.
COLES CANNON HILL
Loose Hass avocados selling at $2.20 or multibuy offer 2 for $4.00
I’m Perfect 1kg nets selling for $7.50 and 5 piece packs at $8.90
COLES GARDEN CITY
Loose Shepard Avocados 2 for $4.00 or $2.20 singularly, a mix of maturity was on offer at this store. Table top display aligning store entry contained Count 25 Terranova fruit supplied by Costa’s packed 1st March ( 9 days old) whilst the end of the third row contained Rock Ridge count 28’s packed 2nd March (8 days old). Both lines of fruit presented well, couple of minor skin marks.
I’m Perfect 1kg nets containing shepards priced at $7.50/bag and 5 piece Pack of Shepards $8.90/bag.
AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS
WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS
Howe Farming avocados priced at $2.00ea presented well.
5 piece Hass Nets had no price ticket, a few packs with significant bruising
WOOLWORTHS CANNON HILL
Count 20 and 23 Shepard avocados presented beautifully in most trays - mix of Greenskin fruit packed 18th Feb (20 days old); Leadwood and another line supplied by Murray Brothers on special at $2.00ea.
This store had 6 piece packs on special for $7.50 and 1kg Odd Bunch packs also on special for $8.50
5 piece packsof small Hass were priced at $8.00 a bag.
WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY
Costa supplied Shepards selling at $2.00ea - count 20’s - fruit was mostly of good quality
5 piece packs were ticketed at $8.00 and Odd bunch 1kg pack at $8.50.
INDEPENDENT STORE - SPUDS & PLUMS GARDEN CITY
Large Shepard Avocados priced at 2 for $6.00 and Hass Avocados also priced at 2 for $7.00
Three piece Shepard overwrap trays for $4.99
Well stocked and good quality across all stock .
