Retail Market Week 29

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QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

In the past week the morning temperatures varied greatly but we have had our first morning field temp of 10C or just below (9.5C) which is renowned for being at what point we will start to see a wider impact of underpeel discoloration or greying of the sub dermal layers of the banana skin which reflects as an outward dull colour. Morning temps across the major growing regions in North Qld have ranged 9.5-20C whilst day time temperatures have ranged 24.8 to 31.6C Mareeba, Innisfail and Tully have all been relatively dry in the last week; whilst Walkamin districts received a total of 30mm across the week. With the continuation of rather mild weather, there has not been a great deal of change with respect to bunch age this week - so we are still ranging 16-17 weeks on farm.

The national cut for last week was a little over 390K cartons. This figure represented a slight decrease of 1.1% on the previous week. The national cut for this week is expected to be similar, within a range of 390-410K 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.

There was a noticeable difference between lines on shelf this week at the major supermarkets - some lines with heavy bronzing on some clusters; others with a presence of bruising, light sap staining and minor skin marking. Colour was generally good. Signage found on display in both Coles and Woolworths stores alerting their customers of the impact of cold winter temperatures on bananas during growth resulting in a dull bloom, yet fruit is still sweet to eat.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland revealed Aldi leading the way on price, this may have been in response to local independent operators offering fruit at similiar price points. The offer varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $2.99/kg; both Coles and Woolworths at $3.50-$4.00/kg in the stores visited in Qld this week. 

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE


This week we finally saw Central Qld taking the lead in terms of avocado production accounting for 57% of the total harvest of some 378,624 trays last week; followed by North Qld with 23%;  South Qld at 8%; Sunshine Coast, Northern Rivers and Tristate supplied a combined 8% and the remaining 4% came from Tamborine and Norther Rivers.  This production figure represents an 11% decrease on week prior and as 11% increase on what was forecast for this period.  This decrease in production has been followed by a slight tightening of pricing with most premium sizes up $1-$2 per tray.     All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.19- $1.30 per piece, and whilst this continues to represent exceptional value, most have noticed a slight decline in sales. Avocado market sales for premium trays are in the range of $12 -$20/tray.  Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $6 --$12 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $5 --$30/ctn depending upon grade, quality and count size. 

The national production of Hass this week is forecast to be considerably lighter in the vicinity of 350,000 - 365,000 trays and then the forecast shows a slight decrease by approximately 10K per week for the next three weeks thereafter so pricing may firm up further depending upon customer purchase patterns and demand.

Presentation in Qld stores this week varied. The humble Hass avocado is still the main attraction though both Coles and Woolworths have continued with having presence of Greenskin’s Gmax avocado (selling count 14-18’s mainly) at a higher ticket price than the Hass.

Prepack formulations on offer by all major supermarkets offer an opportunity to move greater volumes in a single purchase. Aldi were offering their 6 piece nets on special at $4.99 ea; Coles had their 5 piece pack at $4.90 ea and 1kg I’m Perfect packs selling at $3.90ea; whilst Woolworths had the 5 pack on offer for $5.90 and the 1kg Odd Bunch ticketed at a super $3.90/bag.

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 Hass back at $1.19ea;  Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Hass and Greenskin Gmax Avos ticketed at $1.20-$1.30 ea for Hass and $2.00 ea on the Gmax; whilst Coles in Qld had Hass at a piece price of $1.20 ea whilst similarly selling the Greenskin Gmax Avos at $2.00 each.






AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

courtesy of avocados australia

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

 

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish Bananas were priced at $2.99/kg - mixed condition with some bruising, sooty mould, neck injuries and mixed colour on display, around 40% semi condition.

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg - some bronzing between fingers and powder residue evident.

ALDI TOOMBUL

  • Cavendish were priced at $2.99/kg with condition of fruit including some minor scarring and light sap stains observed, but fruit bloom was good.

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99, these were of good condition and colour

ALDI CARINDALE

  • Cavendish were priced at $2.99/kg with colour and bloom of fruit being good

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99 - some clusters were slightly green and had rub marking.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish bananas were displayed at $3.50/kg and kids packs at $3.50/kg, some clusters with minor scarring.

  • Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg and red tips were $5.00/kg

COLES TOOMBUL

  • Cavendish at this store were ticketed at $3.50/kg and kids packs were the same. Cavendish with some minor neck creasing, some bronzing and rub marking found. A plentiful display of kids cluster packs present.

  • Red tips at $5.00/kg, Ladyfingers at $7.90/kg with decent bloom

  • ‘Winter Banana Update’ signage featured

COLES CARINDALE

  • Cavendish were priced at $3.50/kg as were kids packs - some light bronzing an minor skin marking observed. Good display of kids cluster packs.

  • Lady Fingers were available at $6.90/kg and Red tips at $5.00/kg

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50/kg- a neat continuous display featuring fruit ready to eat and a section of eat later with bright new shelf stripping to identify this - fruit was generally in good condition apart from a couple of clusters with bronzing between fingers. Unfortunately some of the eat later stock was displayed in the Eat Now area.

  • Lady Fingers were at $7.90/kg a few clusters with rub marking/scarring and Kids banded clusters ticketed at $2.50.

  • Red tips were also on display for $5.00/kg.

WOOLWORTHS NUNDAH VILLAGE

  • Cavendish at this store (stand alone store) were priced at $4.00/kg - stock appeared to be fairly uniform though a few clusters were of dull appearance - some minor skin marking found, rub and severe bruising.

  • Red Tips were priced at $5.00/kg; Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg; whilst kids packs were at $2.50/kg. Organic clusters were ticketed at $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

  • Cavendish were priced at $3.50/kg, the majority on show were in the Eat Now category section

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg - a number with superficial bruising, rub and a little bronzing.

  • Kids packs were priced at $2.50./kg and red tips were at $5.00/kg

INDEPENDENT STORE - TOOMBUL

  • $1.49 NQ Cavendish Bananas - appeared to be carry over stock from previous day with colour, whilst neatly stacked end display were selling at $2.99/kg all in semi condition but fairly clean.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI GARDEN CITY

  • Count 23 Green Skins Hass stock priced at $1.19 each. Fruit packed 8th July (13 Days old)

  • 6 piece packs of Hass were priced at $4.99ea.

ALDI TOOMBUL

  • Hass were featured - one display of Count 23 Costa/Simpson Hass Avocados were priced at $1.19ea . Costa stock packed 6th July making fruit 15 days old.

  • 6 piece packs Hass for $4.99ea were on offer

ALDI CARINDALE

  • Hass were on display- count 23 Hass Avocados were priced at $1.19ea - Purpleskin- some pieces were quite ripe and a few with skin marking.

  • 6 piece packs Hass for $4.99ea were on offer.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES GARDEN CITY

  • Hass Count 23’s and 25’s selling on a table top display and an end display from 3 suppliers (Costa (Lava Valley packed 11th July so 10 days old) and Dorian through DBM) priced at $1.20ea, quality of these was somewhat mixed, though a few found with nodule damage - majority of fruit was very firm.

  • Coles 5 Packs were ticketed at $4.90ea and 1kg I’m Perfect packs at $3.90

  • Greenskin GMAX selling at $2 ea.

COLES TOOMBUL

  • Hass Avocados loose ( a high percentage of which were supplied by Purpleskins) on a table top display positioned inside at the front of the store as well as displayed on the third end selling at $1.20ea with bananas positioned on the barge unit further down within the department.

  • GMAX Avos were selling at $2 a piece

  • 5 piece packs were selling for $4.90ea - three different suppliers.

COLES CARINDALE

  • Count 23 and 25 Hass were priced at $1.20ea displayed on a table top as well as on the end of the third unit - a few piees with rub/nodule damage.

  • 1kg I’m Perfect packs at $3.90;

  • GMAX at $2 ea.

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

  • Count 23 Hass Avocados positioned on the display opposite entry to the department with ticket price of $1.20 ea, packed 7th July making them 14 days old . This line presented well though a few pieces found with nodule damage and odd piece with bruising. GMAX Avocados were ticketed at $2.00

  • 5 piece packs ticketed at $5.90ea and 1kg Odd Bunch on special at $3.90 ea

WOOLWORTHS NUNDAH VILLAGE

  • Count 20 Tinaroo Falls fruit and Simpson Hass priced at $1.30 each. Majority were clean, odd piece with minor skin marking some sun bleaching, about 10% of display was quite ripe; otherwise fruit was firm.

  • 5 piece nets were $5.90each, 1kg packs were priced at $3.90

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

  • Count 20 Hass from Googa Farms and Simpsons presented on the display opposite entry to the department with ticket price of $1.30 ea. Majority of fruit had skin colour and was yielding to gentle pressure.

  • Five piece nets supplied by Simpsons selling at $5.90ea whilst the 1kg Odd Bunch nets were ticketed at $3.90ea.

 

INDEPENDENT STORE - TOOMBUL

  • Hass Avocados priced at 2 for $4.00, minimal marking/damage, quite firm