Retail Market Week 32

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QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

In the past week the morning temperatures have cooled with a range of 8 to 20.1C across the major growing regions in North Qld; whilst day time temperatures have ranged 21 to 27.8C. The lows of 8-10.4C were mainly experienced in Innisfail and Tully who also experienced light rainfall with between 10-16mm for the week. These low temps will see a little more development of dull bloom in the weeks to come. Mareeba was relatively dry in the last week; whilst Walkamin districts received a total 28mm 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. Growth rates can be best described as being steady at this stage of the season.

The national cut for last week was a little over 517K cartons. This figure represented an increase of 7.7% on the previous week. The national cut for this week is expected to be similar, within a range of 480-500K 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 were a few stores with low stock levels this week when we visited - this may be related to the time of the visit, perhaps stores waiting on delivery of stock. Overall colour was generally good and whilst there is a presence of dull bloom fruit, it is not excessive which relates directly to the rather mild winter we have had in North Qld to date. Signage was again 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 on bananas varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $3.99/kg; both Coles and Woolworths at $4.00-$4.50/kg in the stores visited this week. 

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE


The figures released this week saw Central Qld maintaining the lead in terms of avocado production accounting for 48% of the total harvest of some 487,057 trays last week; followed by Central NSW with 14%;  South Qld at 11%; WA at 10% and North Qld/Tristate with 7% each. The remaining 4% came from a combination of Sunshine Coast, Tamborine and Northern Rivers.  This production figure represents a 14% increase on week prior and was 13% higher than what was forecast for this period.  All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.19- $1.40 per piece, whilst independents were selling class one fruit at $1.00-$1.50/piece. Within the markets, avocado sales for premium trays are in the range of $12 -$22/tray depending upon size and quality of each line, the top of $22 is weak and expected to come back next week.  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 (2nds) --$26/ctn depending upon grade, quality and count size. 

The national production of Hass this week is forecast to be in the vicinity of 440,000 - 450,000 trays and then the forecast shows a the quantity to be produced each week gradually increasing in the next three to four week period. You will note that WA have contributed 10% of the national volume this week which equates to approximately 49,000 trays - this is just the start of what has been touted to be their biggest season on record. The weather in the south west corner of WA has continued to cause some headaches with a hail storm in the past week with an estimated loss of 4-5 pieces per tree - still not significant in relation to the overall size of the crop but with more rain and storms forecast we are ever on the alert.

Presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing.

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 $5.99 ea; Coles had their 5 piece pack at $5.00 ea and 1kg I’m Perfect packs selling at $4.00ea; whilst Woolworths had the 5 pack on offer for $5.50 and the 1kg Odd Bunch ticketed at a super $3.90-$4.90/bag.

Price has remained relatively steady with a $0.10-$0.20 up/down piece rate movement noted this week in some stores. 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 ticketed at $1.20-$1.30 ea; whilst Coles in Qld had Hass at a piece price of $1.20- $1.40each. The ripeness of fruit on shelves varied this week with some stores with a presence of ripe to overripe fruit; but the majority of displays had fruit that would be ready to eat the next or two.









AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

 

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI SPRINGWOOD

  • Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.99/kg - minor skin marking present on displayed fruit.

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg - fruit was of good condition, some with rub marking/light bruising and slight greening of necks.

ALDI GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish were priced at $3.99/kg with fruit being of good colour and bloom

  • Lady Fingers were not on display at this store

ALDI COOPAROO

  • Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.99/kg - minor skin marking present - at least 30% if this fruit had a dull bloom.

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg - fruit was of good condition, some with minor skin marking

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES SPRINGWOOD

  • Cavendish bananas were displayed at $4.50/kg and kids packs at $4.50/kg, some clusters in semi- condition.

  • Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg in an off location display and red tips were $5.50/kg displayed sitting on artificial grass which tends to cause marking of the skin.

COLES GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish at this store were ticketed at $4.00/kg and kids packs were the same.

  • Cavendish had extremely low stock, 1 cluster + 1 finger on display at 9:40 AM, possibly waiting for a delivery?

  • Red tips at $5.50/kg, Ladyfingers at $7.90/kg with most of these being quite backward.

COLES COOPAROO

  • Cavendish bananas (minor skin marking and neck creasing observed) were displayed at $4.00/kg and kids packs at $4.00/kg

  • Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS SPRINGWOOD

  • Cavendish bananas priced at $4.50/kg- fruit based on condition was being displayed in the relevant section ie EAT NOW and EAT LATER. Fruit was generally in good condition - a little light marking and sap staining observed.

  • Lady Fingers (with some bronzing and rub marking of skins) were at $7.90/kg and Kids banded clusters ticketed at $2.50

  • Red tips were also ticketed at $5.00/kg and Organic variety at $5.50/kg

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish at this store were priced at $4.00/kg - stock was displayed in the correct section, presented well, quite clean

  • The Eat Later section was completely bare

  • Kids packs at $2.50/kg

  • Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg, Red tips at $5.00/kg and Organic variety at $5.90/kg

WOOLWORTHS COOPAROO

  • Cavendish at this store were priced at $4.50/kg

  • Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg, Red tips at $5.00/kg and Organic variety at $5.90/kg

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI SPRINGWOOD

  • Count 23 Easy 8 Orchard Hass supplied by Avolution stock priced at $1.19 each. Fruit packed 4th August (7 Days old) - nice quality fruit.

  • 6 piece packs of Hass were priced at $5.99ea.

ALDI GARDEN CITY

  • Hass were on display- count 23 Hass Avocados were priced at $1.19ea - some pieces were quite ripe - again Easy 8 Orchard fruit supplied by Avolution.

  • 6 piece packs Hass for $5.99ea were on offer.

ALDI COOPAROO

  • Count 23 Lovacado Hass supplied by Costa’s and by Simpsons - stock priced at $1.19 each. Fruit packed 31st July (11 Days old)

  • 6 piece packs of Hass were priced at $5.99ea.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES SPRINGWOOD

  • Hass Count 23’s and 25’s supplied by Simpson’s priced at $1.20ea, quality of these was somewhat mixed - some very ripe and hollow pieces.

  • 1kg I’m Perfect packs at $4.00ea - presented off location.

  • 5 piece packs at $5.00ea - nice quality fruit within.

COLES GARDEN CITY

  • Hass Avocados loose 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

  • 5 piece packs were selling for $5.00ea

COLES COOPAROO

  • Hass Avocados loose selling at $1.40ea

  • I’m Perfect 1kg packs were priced at $4.00 however there was no stock displayed

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS SPRINGWOOD

  • Count 23/25 Hass Avocados positioned on the display opposite entry to the department with ticket price of $1.20 ea, packed 28th July making them 15 days old . This line presented well though a few pieces found with sun blemish and odd piece with bruising.

  • 5 piece packs ticketed at $5.50ea

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

  • Simpson Farms Hass priced at $1.20 each. Majority were clean, odd piece with minor skin marking.

  • 5 piece nets were $5.50each, 1kg Odd Bunch packs were priced at $4.90 ea

WOOLWORTHS COOPAROO

  • Count 18 Hass Avocados with ticket price of $1.30 ea, packed 30th July making them 12 days old . This line presented well

  • 5 piece packs ticketed at $5.50ea and 1kg packs at $3.90ea