QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The national banana cut last week was fairly stable just shy of 361,000 cartons harvested in the last week. 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 17.9-23.6C and maximum day temps of 26.4to 33.7C. In terms of rainfall, there has been a few showers along the coast, less in the hinterland.

Quality on shelf this week has improved slightly with definitely less visible bat marking (more sporadic) , on some lines there is a presence of sooty mould, rust thrip damage, minor neck injuries and general skin marking including point scarring and rub.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $3.29/kg; Woolworths at $3.30 to $3.90/kg and Coles offering fruit at $3.50 to $3.90/kg dependent upon the store locality. The independent at one outlet had cavendish at $2.99/kg.

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

North Qld maintains the lead in production with their Shepard season accounting for 69% of the total production of some 316,000 trays last week; followed by Central Qld with 30%; with the remaining 1% coming from Central NSW. Pricing appears to have reached a period of temporary stabilisation within the market place. Australian Shepard main sales for premium are in the range of $20 -$30/tray. 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 avocados are forecast to be lighter next week around 240,000 to 250,000 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 210,000 to 220,000 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. Coles have their 1kg I’m Perfect packs on special at $6.50 each and the Woolies at Mt Ommaney had their 1kg Odd Bunch pack on special at just $4.00/pack.

In terms of Shepard retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld price was the most competitive at $1.79 per single piece; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Shepards ticketed between $1.90 ea to $2.20 ea depending upon store location; whilst Coles in Qld had Shepards $1.90 each or 3 for $5.00. Coles ran a late week special, running Friday to Monday with 3 for $5.00 in Qld and NSW stores to stimulate demand.

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 SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.29/kg - a degree of skin marking as well as some of the fruit spotting, bat scratches and multiple clusters with sooty mould. Many hands were also either semi coloured or backward in this store

ALDI GARDEN CITY

Cavendish were priced at $3.29 and were quite backward
Lady Fingers were slightly marked and were priced at $5.99

ALDI MT OMMANEY

Cavendish were priced at $3.29 with around 70% of fruit being backward and stacked which can produce markig
Lil Snackers packs were priced at $3.99 and Lady Fingers at $5.99, both varieties showing skin markings

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish bananas were displayed at $3.80/kg and kids packs at $3.80/kg
Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90
All varieties had a presence of backward fruit and minor skin marking.

COLES GARDEN CITY

Cavendish at this store were displayed well at $3.80/kg
Kids packs were also priced at $3.80
Most fruit had good colour though still a presence of dull clusters, roughly 20% backward fruit with a degree of skin marking of the cavendish.

COLES MT OMMANEY

Cavendish were priced at $3.80 with Kids packs priced the same
Lady Fingers were on display at $7.90, these needed to be refilled

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.90/kg. Good colour and generally good bloom (odd cluster will dull bloom), light skin marking.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg with a degree of skin marking, Little Sana banded packs were priced at $3.90, red tips at $5.00/kg, all fruit with minimal marking

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

Cavendish at this store were priced at $3.30/kg with kids packs priced at the same point.
In the cavendish variety there were a few backward clusters.
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg with good colour and minimal skin marking
This store also had the organic variety which were priced at $5.00/kg

WOOLWORTHS MT OMMANEY

Cavendish were priced at $3.90/kg and kids packs the same - this week the banana display was on the rear of the first row.
Red tip variety and organics at $5.00/kg
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg
Some stock was semi condition, odd cluster backward. Display almost in need of a refill and tidy.

INDEPENDENT STORE MT OMMANEY

Cavendish bananas were priced at $2.99/kg, most stock were semi condition and fairly clean.
Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg - singles and pairs perhaps from previous day trade were overwrapped on trays.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI