Retail Market Week 18

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QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The national banana cut last week decreased again by a further 73,000 cartons to a total of  333,516 cartons harvested.  The weather in the past week has seen continued dried up a little in comparison to the last couple of weeks but continued to cool off particularly overnight and early mornings in North Qld.  Temperatures  have been milder with minimum temperatures ranging 13.1-21.9C and maximum day temps of 23.2 to 28.8C.  Rainfall since last Wednesday has seen Walkamin receive a further 10mm; Mareeba a further 1mm; Tully another 65mm; and Innisfail another 59mm falling in isolated showers in each region. With the cooling of the seasonal weather the average bunch age will push out, we are now harvesting at 16 weeks and expect this to push out to 17 weeks. National production is expected to be within the region of 350 to 370,000 cartons this week.

Whilst there is still a presence of bat marking, it is significantly less and we are pleased to say that finally we believe we have turned a corner towards better quality fruit. We have been cutting fruit slightly thinner in order to prevent bronzing damage and as already stated average bunch age is now at 16 weeks. With the cooling of overnight and morning temperatures and slightly shorter days we will see production slow somewhat in the coming weeks.  We are continuing to grade out excessive bat scratching and visible bronzing defects to ensure fruit is within spec on arrival to our customers. At Banana Congress next week, we are hoping there is a discussion around how we as individual farmers and as an industry can deal with the damage caused by the bats.

Quality on shelf this week was varied - some lines presented very well with minimal marking and good colour, others dull, with bronzing, sap staining and of course some bat/bird marking as you do doubt see in the photos included.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $3.99/kg; Woolworths at $3.50 to $3.90/kg and Coles offering fruit at$3.90/kg dependent upon the store locality. 

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE


Central Qld  took the lead in avocado production accounting for 51% of the total harvest of some 260,413 trays last week; followed by North Qld with 48.5%;  and the remaining 0.5% came from combined regions of Central NSW; South Qld and Sunshine Coast.  Whilst this production figure represents a 29% increase on week prior it was also 6.8% lower than forecast for this period.  Pricing continues to be quite stable within the market place.    Australian Hass are now pipping Shepard production figures accounting for 51% of the avocados that were harvested this week. Avocado market sales for premium trays are in the range of $24 -$32/tray, with Hass trays at the upper band of this range.  Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $16 --$20 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $42 --$50/ctn towards the end of this week and for class one and 2nd bulks $10 --$27/ctn. 

North Qld Shepard avocados are forecast to be lighter again this week with around 60,000 trays forecast. The forecast for the next two week period shows the tray volume dropping to 30K and then 17K as this season for this variety is nearing its end.  Conversely the production of Hass this week was forecast to be 286,000 trays and then is forecast to lift to 308K and then 320K for the following fortnight.  These figures will be impacted by local weather conditions - isolated showers have been experienced this week, but weather has been much drier which is pleasing.  Dry matter test results conducted to date are ranging 21.2 to 26.4% on medium to large fruit - we are continuing to pick accordingly only fruit from blocks that have dry matter results that exceed 23%.  The longer term forecast is for further rain - so harvesting may be interrupted from time to time, but we will keep you all abreast of developments on a week-by-week basis.

Presentation in Qld stores this week was again generally good with fruit having good shape and glossy skins -most major retailers are still stocking shepards with changeover to Hass next week.  Aldi were stocking Greenskins AvoMax range and this fruit was ticketed as Avocado Greenskins selling at $1.79 each - fruit was very firm, but presented well. They were also stocking the Purpleskin Hass also selling at $1.79 each.

Prepack formulations continue for be a value offer and an opportunity to move greater volumes in a single purchase. Aldi were offering their 6 piece nets at $7.49 to $7.79 ea; Woolworths had the 5 pack on offer for $6.50 and the 1kg Odd Bunch ticketed at just $7/bag whilst Coles had both their 5 piece pack and 1kg I’m Perfect packs selling at $8.90ea.

In terms of Shepard retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows:  Aldi Qld had Shepard and Hass priced at a competitive $1.79 per single piece (NB their Cooparoo store still had fruit ticketed at $1.59ea);  Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Shepards ticketed  between $1.80 ea to $2.00 ea depending upon store location; whilst Coles in Qld continued their offer of Shepards  $1.80 each or 3 for $5.00.  Coles at Goodna had shifted their table top display to just inside the store entry, front and centre.

Avocados Australia have commenced their marketing campaign with the launch of “Our Green Gold” commercial bursting onto television screens now through until the end of June which will be supported by social media, digital advertising and public relations.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

 

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI COOPAROO

  • Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.49/kg - a degree of skin marking, neck damage and rust thrip present and a high proportion of the fruit was backward in condition

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg and Lil snackers kids packs were $3.29

ALDI REDBANK PLAINS

  • Cavendish were priced at $3.99 with skin marking including bat scratches and colouring of some being dull

  • Lady Fingers were presented quite averagely, priced at $6.99/kg

ALDI FOREST LAKE

  • Cavendish displayed fundamentally in a single layer on tiered steps priced at $3.99/kg with fruit being relatively good in colour but exhibiting minor skin marking, rub and neck injuries.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES COOPAROO

  • Cavendish bananas were displayed at $3.90/kg and kids packs at $4.50/kg

  • Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg - good colour and were clean.

  • All varieties had a presence of minor skin marking, stock was low

COLES REDBANK PLAINS

  • Cavendish at this store were displayed well at $3.90/kg

  • Lady Fingers were priced $7.90/kg and kids packs were $3.90

  • Most fruit had good colour and presented well, approximately 20% backward fruit; a small quantity of cavendish did exhibit a degree of skin marking.

COLES FOREST LAKE

  • Cavendish were priced at $3.90 with kids packs priced the same

  • Cavendish had decent colour and bloom, however some were slightly green

  • Lady Fingers were on display at $7.90, these had good colour but also were decently marked

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS COOPAROO

  • Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50/kg- odd cluster will dull bloom and skin marking included bat marking, neck injury and odd splitting peel.

  • Lady Fingers were at $7.90

  • Little Sana banded packs were priced at $3.50/kg and Red tips at $5.00/kg with some marking

WOOLWORTHS GOODNA

  • Cavendish at this store were priced at $3.90/kg with kids packs priced the same

  • In the cavendish variety there were a few backward clusters, a few with light scarring or sap staining but generally good colour/bloom. A very neat and tidy display.

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg with evidence of bronzing and minor skin marking; whilst Lil Sana clusters at $3.90/kg and red tip variety $5.00/kg had good colour and fairly clean presentation.

WOOLWORTHS FOREST LAKE

  • Cavendish were priced at $3.50/kg and kids packs the same

  • 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

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI COOPAROO

  • Costa Shepard Avos count 25, packed 19th April (16 days old) stock presented in tray priced at $1.59

  • Costa Hass were also in stock, count 23 priced at $1.59ea

  • 6 piece packs of Shepards were priced at $7.49, but no stock was on display

  • Fruit had slight marking but in general was well presented

ALDI REDBANK PLAINS

  • Count 20 Greenskin GMAX Avo and Purpleskin Hass Avocados were priced at $1.79 - packed 21st April meaning fruit is 14 days old.

  • 6 piece packs of Shepards were on display for $7.49 and 6 piece Hass for $7.79

ALDI FOREST LAKE

  • Count 20 Green Skin GMAX Avos were priced at $1.79ea and Purple Skins Hass were also priced at $1.79

  • 6 piece Hass packs were $7.79/net

  • Stock had good colour, some with minimal marking - some sun blemish amongst the Hass and skin marking.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES COOPAROO

  • Shepards selling at $2.00ea or on multibuy offer 3 for $5.00, quality of these were good.

  • Avocado I’m Perfect 1kg packs were on display for $8.90 and 5 piece Shepard nets also for $8.90ea.

COLES REDBANK PLAINS

  • Count 28 Zebra Shepard; Dorian and Howe Farming avos for $1.80 - display with all the different tray colours appeared a little jumbled.

  • ‘I’m Perfect’ 1kg packs were priced at $8.90/net as were 5 piece packs, all stock had good colour and minimal marking

COLES FOREST LAKE

  • Count 25 Simpson Farming Shepard variety, packed 19th April (16 days old) were priced multibuy 3 for $5.00

  • All stock in this store had good colour and firmness

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS COOPAROO

  • Count 16 (Greenskins) GMAX avocados priced at $2.00ea - a number of loose pieces with bruising and skin marks.

  • 5 piece Hass Nets on special at $6.50ea and 1kg packs at $7.00 - packs were disappointing with many containing individual pieces with rots or severe sunburn.

WOOLWORTHS GOODNA

  • Count 23 Shepard avocados supplied by Mackays - Obie Fresh were displayed well at $1.80ea (packed 27th April so 8 days old)

  • 1kg Odd Bunch packs were priced at $7.00ea - did find a few packs containing bruised fruit.

  • Great to see the promo of the new Hass Avocado season on the back of the Woolworths shopper docket for the month of May!

WOOLWORTHS FOREST LAKE

  • Shepard avocados were priced at $2.00, most fruit had good colour and firmness, some with marking - suppliers included Gunnado and Simpson

  • Avocado Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $7.00