Retail Market Week 23 - 2022

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QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures last week fell within the low 400K cartons. In the last week, morning temperatures have been noticeably cooler falling within a range of 13.2- to 21.8C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of 28.9C -within a range of 25 to 28.9C across the week which for NQld is mild.  In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions have been experiencing light rain in most growing regions. Both Tully and Innisfail regions received 41.2mm to 61.6mm accumulatively throughout the week. Mareeba and Walkamin experienced more sporadic falls totalling 11.2 TO 24.4mm for the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 15-16 weeks, with fruit quality generally good overall in our packshed though we continue to grade out some light scarring. Fruit bloom at this stage is still bright but as the weather continues to cool; not only will we will see bunch age increase over the coming weeks and months but if field temperatures fall below 10C we may start to see a dulling of fruit in appearance.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $1.99 to $3.29/kg this week.  The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $0-$26 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has. There was one agent in particular in the Brisbane market that was giving fruit away today which is a sign that they are in trouble, but the downside of this is that it degrades the market overall.

The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well and fruit is exhibiting good bloom - few odd clusters starting to show a presence of dull peel but believed not to be due to growing conditions at this stage. There was a presence of minor dry scar; minor neck damage; as well as bronzing; bruising; small rub marks and sap staining.  Colour was generally good.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas has come back a little this week in comparison to the week prior and amongst the major supermarkets with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $2.99/kg; whilst both Woolies offered fruit at $2.50 to $3.00/kg and Coles offered fruit at $3.00 to $3.50/kg depending upon location of the stores visited.
 











BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows: 

·       Week 22 - 446,364 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a decrease of 3% ( or some 15,000 or so less cartons) on Week 21, 2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 55% of this; followed by Central Qld with 38%; 4.3% from South Qld and the remaining 2.7% is made up of a contribution from Central NSW and Northern Rivers/Tamborine and Sunny coast.

·       It is forecast that a total of 388K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Hass forecast for the next two weeks is for between 374-382K trays per week and then supply is forecast to lighten to approximately 336K trays/week by early July. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 438,273 trays.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass  at $1.39 to $1.50ea .  Hass pricing has come back somewhat this week, with prices ranging between $14-$20/tray (a top of $18 is probably a better indication) for premium and a range of $10 -$14/tray for class one.  There continues to be very few bulk Hass on the market currently as what is available is being used for prepacking to service the supermarkets predominantly.

The weather in North Qld for our avocado crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 13.2 to 28C with a little more rain around in the last week with total falls of 11 to 40mm accumulatively in the main growing regions. Fruit quality from our packing shed has been good, still seeing some lenticel damage but we are grading to ensure this is not too heavy. We are still experiencing a significant proportion of our crop being count 16’s - we sure do know how to grow them big!

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though some of the new season hass had a presence of moderate lenticel/nodule damage relating to recent rain in the growing region. Fruit age ranged 7 to 15 days. 

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows:  Aldi Qld had Hass and Gmax avos selling this week at a ticket price of $1.39ea;  Coles Qld had NQ Hass ticketed at $1.50ea and Gmax selling at $2.00ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had Hass selling at $1.50-$1.70/piece depending upon store location and Gmax selling at $2.50ea.  The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to soft (especially amongst the hass, any piece with a dull hue and sun blemish tended to be quite soft). 

 

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Top Woolworths Hass and Woolworths Gmax; Bottom left -Aldi Shepard and Right -Coles Hass Avocados

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

 

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI GARDEN CITY

  • A full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $2.99/kg. Fruit had developing colour, whilst most clusters had minimal scarring there were random clusters that were heavily marked and a few that were quite dull in appearance.

  • No Lady Fingers on display.

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

  • A display of Cavendish were priced at $2.99/kg. range of colour at this store, a low level presence of some light minor skin marks noted. A full, well presented display.

  • Lady Fingers at this store priced at $5.99ea.

ALDI WEST END

  • A full display of Cavendish priced at $2.99/kg. A few clusters found with rub marking, rust thrip damage an scarring.

  • Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg.

  • Both lines had some semi-colour fruit.

 

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish bananas displayed at $3.00/kg - fruit that was displayed in single layer on each step, Kid’s packs at $3.00ea.

  • Red Tips at $4.90/kg (these were green) and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg.

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

  • Cavendish priced at $3.00/kg, Kid’s packs also at $3.00.

  • Red Tips at $4.90/kg a couple of clusters with neck damage and green in colour and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg (minimal bruising)

  • Organic Variety at $4.90/kg.

COLES WEST END

  • Cavendish bananas, display priced at $3.50/kg - approximately 1/3 of stock was semi colour in condition - a little bronzing and scarring observed - also some quite dull clusters present. Kid’s packs priced at $3.50ea.

  • Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg supplied by DBM. Red Tips at $4.90/kg - most clusters with rub marking/bronzing.

 

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish priced at $3.50/kg - display reasonably tidy, a few clusters with creased necks and some minor skin marking observed. Kids packs at $2.50ea.

  • Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Red Tips at $4.90/kg. Organic Variety at $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS BROWNS PLAINS

  • Cavendish bananas priced at $2.50/kg - a neatly presented display, a little light on the ‘Eat Now’ stock - a presence of minor neck damage and scarring. Kids packs at $2.50ea - clusters with skin markings.

  • Red Tips ticketed at $4.90/kg on special - no fruit, Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - also no fruit and Organic variety at $5.50/kg (full stock).

WOOLWORTHS WEST END

  • Display of Cavendish were priced at $3.00/kg. Display was predominantly clean.

  • Lady Fingers priced at $7.90/kg, low stock levels, Red Tips at $4.90/kg, quite marked and needing a refill and Organics at $5.50/kg quite clean.

INDEPENDENT STORE - GARDEN CITY

  • Cavendish priced at $1.99 per kg, some developing fruit, all minimal marking.

 

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI GARDEN CITY

  • Purpleskin HASS Avocados count 25’s packed 1st June meaning fruit was just 7 days old and Greenskins GMAX both at $1.39ea.

  • Hass 5 piece packs at $5.99ea.

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

  • Purpleskin Count 25 Hass - priced at $1.39 each and Greenskins GMAX ct 20’s also priced at $1.39ea. Hass with some skin blemishes. Hass packed 26th May meaning fruit age was 13 days old.

  • 1kg and 5 piece packs at $5.99ea.

ALDI WEST END

  • Ct 23 Hass and Greenskins GMAX Ct 23 Avocados on display - priced at $1.39 each. GMAX packed 24th May so 15 days old.

  • 1kg packs at $5.99ea and 5 piece packs also at $5.99ea.

 

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES GARDEN CITY

  • Hass Avocados supplied by various growers including Ferraro Farming supplied by Freshmax were presented on a table top display, ticketed at $1.50ea. Fruit packed 25th May so 14 days old.

  • Both prepacks at $6.50ea.

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

  • On offer Count 25-28 Hass displayed on a table top, priced at Fresh Special of $1.50ea. Fruit supplied by Murray Brothers included Googa Farms and Makhona Farms; also present were a tray of Kureen Farming; and Blue Sky Produce. Fruit packed dates ranged 24 to 27th May so age ranged 12-15 days.

  • GMAX on display for $2.00ea. Stock needed replenishing.

  • Both prepacks priced at $6.50ea.

COLES WEST END

  • Two full displays of loose Hass Avocados featured at this store - ticketed at $1.50ea - table top located at entry visible from the external entry and display end. In part the supply was from Simpson Farms - Ct25 Hass packed 28th May meaning fruit was 11 days old. The majority of fruit presented well, a few pieces found with heavier lenticel/nodule damage or dark skin blemishes. GMAX Avocados presented separate Hass priced at $2.00ea.

  • $6.50 for either the Coles 5pk or the 1kg I’m Perfect nets. Organic Avos priced at $4.00ea.

 

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

  • Purpleskin Hass were ticketed at $1.70ea, displayed on A Frame double sided display just inside the entrance to the produce department.

  • Greenskin GMAX avos priced at $2.50ea, displayed just inside the produce department.

  • Prepacks had some questionable fruit, with heavy marking on some pieces.

WOOLWORTHS BROWNS PLAINS

  • Count 25-28 Hass Avocados supplied by Howe Farming (APP) and Simpson Farms for $1.50 each, packed 27th to 28th May (11-12 days old) - avos were good - majority quite firm. An excellent display with well tied in header cards and promo material.

  • 5 piece nets and 1kg Odd Bunch both priced at $6.50ea.

WOOLWORTHS WEST END

  • A frame bed display of Purpleskin Hass Ct16s priced at $1.50. Greenskins GMAX Avos in count 14 and 16’s priced at $2.50ea.

  • 5 piece packs were priced at $6.50ea and 1kg packs were also priced at $6.50ea.

INDEPENDENT STORE - GARDEN CITY

  • Hass Avocado Prepack priced at $3.99ea, all similar quality and colour. Stage of ripeness within the packs varied giving the customer a selection of staged fruit.