QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The national banana cut last week was fairly stable with just under 363,000 cartons harvested - a slight increase on the previous week of 2,000 cartons. National production is expected to be within the range of 360-370K cartons next week. The weather in the past week has been milder with minimum temperatures ranging 18.3 - 24C and maximum day temps of 27.2 to 33.4C. Minimal rain in the last week though more is forecast late in the week particularly for the Innisfail and Tully regions.

Quality on shelf this week has improved somewhat on previous trading weeks with less dull, grey/bronzed fruit and skin marking was also less than previous weeks. The Woolworths offering in this centre was best on show this week.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $3.29/kg; Woolworths at $3.30/kg and Coles offering fruit at $3.50/kg in the centre visited - only one centre visited due to Brisbane being in Covid lockdown.

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 85% of the total production of some 266,000 last week; followed by Central Qld with 15%. Pricing is still trending downwards within the market place. Australian Shepard main sales for premium are in the range of $20 -$30/tray, with $30 being absolute top. Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $14 --$20 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $40 --$45/ctn and for class one and 2nd bulks $10 --$30/ctn.

North Qld Shepard avocado production for next week is forecast to be within a range of 220,000 to 230,000 trays expected from the region. The forecast for the next two week period shows the tray volume starting to decline slightly with harvests within the range of 162,000 to 213,000 per week. Presentation in stores this week was again generally good with fruit having good shape and glossy skins.

Prepack formulations offer a great opportunity for both the retailer and the customer alike - offering real value and an opportunity to move greater volumes in a single purchase. All major supermarkets now have their 5 or 6 piece prepacks as well as their value 1kg nets filled with Shepards.

In terms of Shepard retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had a red hot ticket price of $1.49 per piece; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Shepards ticketed at $1.90 ea whilst Coles in Qld had Shepards $1.90 each or their multibuy offer of 3 for $5.00 was extended through to Easter. It was also noted that the Maluma Hass, branded as Autumn Avocado’s marketed by Mackays, were on a number of Coles shelves also retailing at the same price as the Shepards ie $1.90 ea - fruit observed this week was very firm and a few pieces had sun blemish.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Woolworths Shepards, Aldi Shepards and Coles Shepards Avocados

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

Bananas at Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.29/kg - a degree of minor skin marking clearly visible.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg, most clusters were clean, a little rub, rust thrip and scarring present.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

Cavendish bananas were displayed at $3.50/kg and kids packs at $3.50/kg

All varieties had a presence of backward fruit and minor skin marking - still a few dull clusters found throughout the cavendish, also minor neck injury, rub and scarring.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS BROWNS PLAINS

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.30/kg. Good colour and generally good bloom, light skin marking but clearly best on show in this centre.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg with good colour, Little Sana banded packs were priced at $3.30, red tips at $4.50/kg and organic variety at $4.90/kg, all fruit with minimal marking

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

Shepard Avos count 23 and 25’s from Greenskins, stock presented in tray priced at $1.49 - packed 18th and 19th March meaning fruit was up to 13 days old.
6 piece packs of Shepards were priced at $7.99
Fruit had slight marking but in general was well presented - little nodule damage and odd bruising.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

Howe Farming Count 25 supplied by Mackays and Tinaroo Falls supplied by Simpson in Count 28 selling at 3 for $5.00, quality of these was generally good through a few pieces with skin marking and bruises. Displayed on table top display just inside entry to the right and also on shelf. Packed date 17th March therefore age of fruit is 14 days old.
1kg I’m Perfect nets selling for $6.90 ea - contain Australian Shepard avocados. Avocado 5 piece packs were on display for $8.90/pack.
This store also stocked ‘Autumn Hass Avocados’ - which are Maluma Hass being marketed by Mackays - these were also priced at $1.90ea or 3 for $5.00 - fruit was quite firm.

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS BROWNS PLAINS

Count 28 Cadoran Shepard avocados supplied by Murray Brothers packed 18th March (13 days old) neatly displayed and priced at $1.90ea - presented well.
5 piece Hass Nets on special at $8.00ea from three different supplied by the swing tags, a few packs with slight bruising and 1kg packs at $7.50ea on special.