Retail Market Week 24
/QUICKLINKS
BANANA OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
The weather in the past week has seen a few drizzles of rain around Innisfail and Tully with falls of 8-12 mm across the week with dry weather experienced around Innisfail and Walkamin. The temperature range for this last week was a touch warmer with almost a 10C difference between the coolest and warmest early temps experienced ranging 12 to 21.5C throughout these regions and daytime temperature ranges of 22.1 to 29.6C. There has not been a great deal of change with respect to bunch age this week as the weather has been milder.
The national cut for last week was 1.13% higher than the previous week at 363K cartons so supply is again still a little tight. It is expected to be similar next week, within a range of 360-380K cartons. Our harvest team continue to be proactively cutting fruit that is slightly thinner in girth in order to prevent too much bronzing damage - we are continuing to grade out 10-15% with heavier marking. We are continuing to harvest fruit with 16-17 weeks bunch age and are also continuing to packing out approximately 10-12% of our crop as large fruit (200-220mm) currently.
Quality on shelf this week showed a degree of improvement with less minor skin marking overall, colour was generally good and bloom overall generally still bright though it won’t be long until the fruit is showing the effects of our cooler winter growing conditions.
Retail ticket pricing in Queensland is indicative of the shorter supply with cavendish retail tickets still at or above $4/kg. The offer varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $4.49/kg; Woolworths at $4.50/kg; whilst Coles had pulled back their ticket price to $4.00/kg in the stores visited in Qld and NSW this week.
BANANA SNAPSHOT
Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays
AVOCADO OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
This week North Qld again supplied the majority of avocado production accounting for 53% of the total harvest of some 415,925 trays last week; followed by Central Qld with 45%; and the remaining 2% came from combined regions of South Qld; Sunshine Coast and Tristate made a start. This production figure represents a 3% increase on week prior and also a 9% increase on what was forecast for this period. As of today, there is still a significant volume of fruit in all markets and we expect current pricing to be maintained. All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1- $1.20 per piece, which from a customer’s perspective continues represents astounding value. Avocado market sales for premium trays are in the range of $12 -$16/tray. Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $5 --$10 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $5 --$25/ctn depending upon grade, quality and count size.
The national production of Hass this week is forecast to be in the vicinity of 353,000 - 360,000 trays and then is forecast to be in the vicinity of 370-380K/week in the following fortnight.
Presentation in Qld stores this week was somewhat mixed in terms of quality; whilst there is a strong focus on the Hass variety as the main display, there was a continued presence of Greenskin’s Gmax avocado varietal in all three majors and in most instances the Gmax was at a higher ticket price than the Hass. What is missing at all stores during this time of price promotion is a percentage of the display that is ripe and ready for use - majority of fruit is firm and will still require another 2 to 3 days before it is ready to enjoy which in some cases will equate to lost sales opportunities, especially for the new category purchaser, who may be tempted by price; but do not know enough about the fruit.
This week we saw more activity amongst the Prepack formulations on offer by all major supermarkets with an opportunity to move greater volumes in a single purchase. Aldi were offering their 6 piece nets on special at $5.99 ea; Coles had their 5 piece pack at $4.50-$4.90 ea and 1kg I’m Perfect packs selling at $3.90ea; whilst Woolworths had the 5 pack on offer for $5.00 and the 1kg Odd Bunch ticketed at just $4.90 to $5.50/bag. Despite very keen pricing on most of these lines, there were a lot of packs marked down suggesting customers were opting for the larger loose options.
Price has continued to be the driving factor whilst volumes are high. In terms of Hass retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Greenskin Gmax Avos and Hass back at $0.99ea; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Hass and Greenskin Gmax Avos ticketed at $1.20 ea for Hass and $2.00 ea on the Gmax; whilst Coles in Qld had a multi buy deal of 3/$3.00 or a piece price of $1.20ea meanwhile selling the Greenskin Gmax Avos at $2.00 each.
Avocados Australia are continuing their marketing campaign with the airing of “Our Green Gold” television commercials through until the end of June which are being supported by social media, digital advertising and public relations activity.
AVOCADO SNAPSHOT
Left to Right: Woolworths Shepards, Aldi Shepards and Coles Shepard and Hass Avocados
STOCK IN STORES
QUICKLINKS
Courtesy of Avocados Australia
BANANAS AT ALDI
ALDI GARDEN CITY
Cavendish Bananas were priced at $4.49/kg - a degree of skin marking, but overall in good condition
Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg
ALDI CHERMSIDE
Cavendish were priced at $4.49 with condition of fruit included a percentage being dull in appearance.
Lady Fingers were presented quite averagely, priced at $6.99/kg and Lil Snakcers packs were priced at $3.99
ALDI MIRANDA NSW
Cavendish Bananas were priced at $4.49/kg - relatively clean display - some minor neck damage, bat scars and rub marking visible.
Lil Snackerz tape banded clusters were priced at $3.99 for 750g exhibited with minor rub marking, neck damage and were semi condition at best.
BANANAS AT COLES
COLES GARDEN CITY
Cavendish bananas were displayed at $4.00/kg and kids packs at $4.00/kg. Approximately 50% of the display of loose cavendish were coloured, the remaining 50% quite green - fruit had a few minor skin marks, but showed improvement on recent weeks. Kids banded clusters had a few skin marks and some were dull and backward.
Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg. Red tips were on display for $5.00/kg - these too were also backward and some clusters with scarring and bronzing.
COLES CHERMSIDE
Cavendish at this store were ticketed at $4.00/kg and kids packs were the same. Loose cavendish exhibited quite a number of minor defects with neck creasing, sap staining and small bat marking scars the most prolific. Some clusters were of dull appearance.
Lady Fingers were available at $7.90/kg (a few with sap stains and some sooty mould), Kids packs at $4.00/kg and Red tips at $5.00/kg
COLES MIRANDA NSW
Cavendish were priced at $4.50/kg with kids packs priced the same - odd cluster with minor neck creasing and a little rub marking. Kids banded clusters were neatly presented.
The majority of the Cavendish display had good colour and bright bloom
Lady Fingers were on display at $7.90, these had good colour
BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS
WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY
Cavendish bananas priced at $4.50/kg- a neat continuous display featuring fruit ready to eat and some to eat later with bright new shelf stripping to identify this - fruit was generally in good condition.
Lady Fingers were at $7.90/kg a few clusters with rub marking and a little bat marking
Organic variety were priced at $5.90/kg, and Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg - these were found to have quite a presence of sap stains and many clusters were of dull appearance.
WOOLWORTHS CHERMSIDE
Cavendish at this store were priced at $4.50/kg - stock appeared to be older, dull in bloom, a number of clusters with early stage crown end mould developing, scarring, neck damage and bruising also evident.
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg - some clusters with rub marking. Whilst Red Tips priced at $5.50/kg were dull with sooty mould and sap stains.
WOOLWORTHS MIRANDA NSW
Cavendish were priced at $4.90/kg - Leahys Bananas. Fruit very well presented - new shelf strips in place - A mix of colour and semi-condition in the appropriate area of the display.
Red tips were of good condition- some green and were priced at $5.50 as were Organic variety
AVOCADOS AT ALDI
ALDI GARDEN CITY
Count 25 Purpleskin Hass stock packed 8th June (8 days old) - stock all yielding to gentle pressue priced at 99c each and Count 18 Greenskin Gmax Avos Packed 2nd June (14 days old) stock presented in tray priced at 99c each.
6 piece packs of Hass were priced at $4.99ea.
ALDI CHERMSIDE
Hass were featured in two locations - one display of 25 Ferraro Hass Avocados packed 2nd June (14 days old) supplied by Freshmax were priced at 99c and a secondary display also count 25 by a Costa grower packed 1st and 2nd June.
Greenskins GMAX Avos count 20 packed 1st June (15 days old) - odd piece with some rub marking and lenticel also selling for $0.99 a piece.
6 piece packs Hass for $5.99ea were on offer - a few packs on top of the display were quite ripe, carry over stock.
ALDI MIRANDA NSW
Count 25 Simpson Hass (exhibiting some nodule damage) priced at 99c each.
Prepack of 6 Hass were ticketed at $4.99ea.
AVOCADOS AT COLES
COLES GARDEN CITY
Simpson; Purpleskin and Dorrian Ct 25 Hass selling on a table top display priced at $1.20ea or multi deal offer of 3/$3.00, quality of these was somewhat mixed, though a few found with nodule damage, sun bleaching and mixed maturity. Packed date of 2nd June - therefore fruit is 14 days old. Stock displayed along entry to store.
Coles 5 Packs were ticketed at $4.50ea - but sadly no stock.
Greenskin GMAX avos selling at $2 ea.
COLES CHERMSIDE
Hass Avocados selling at $1.20ea or 3 for $3.00 (smaller display) - single to double layer table top display - Ferraro fruit supplied by Freshmax - some pieces with heavy rub and nodule damage. Loose GMAX Avos were selling at $2 a piece.
5 piece packs were selling for $4.50 and the 1kg I’m Perfect packs ticketed at $3.90ea.
COLES MIRANDA NSW
Neatly stacked display on entry to store with Hass on offer at $1.20/piece or multi buy offer 3 for $3.00 - a mix of Serra Farming fruit supplied by Mackays packed 2nd June (14 days old) and Costa Supplied Ct 20 Hass - a little nodule damage present and the odd piece with some major damage observed.
Coles 5 packs ticketed at $4.90ea .
AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS
WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY
Count 16 Purpleskin fruit packed 3rd June (13 days old) presented on the display opposite entry to the department with ticket price of $1.20 ea. Count 18 GMAX fruit packed 27th May (20 days old) was priced at $2.00ea . A presence of rub and lenticel damage found throughout most trays of the GMAX. A few of the GMAX found with very elongated necks.
WOOLWORTHS CHERMSIDE
Ct 16 Purpleskin packed 26th May so stock is 19 days old priced at $1.20 each. A degree of nodule damage and bruising visible
5 piece packs were at $5.00 supplied by Simpson Farms and 1kg packs on special for $4.90
WOOLWORTHS MIRANDA
Donovan Avocados Hass priced at $1.40ea and Gmax avocados priced at $1.40ea The majority of fruit was firm.
Avocado Odd Bunch 1kg packs on special at $4.90, Simpson supplied 5 packs ticketed at $5.00ea.
