US retail

The United Fresh Produce Association has launched a new quarterly research report dubbed Fresh Facts on Retail, which has already revealed an interesting insight into US retail sales trends for fresh fruits and vegetables during the second quarter of this year.

Produced in partnership with the Perishables Group and programme sponsor Del Monte, the report tracks and provides analysis of all US retail sales data for the top 10 fruits and vegetable commodities, value-added and convenience produce items, emerging market opportunities such fresh meals and snacks sold in delis, organic produce, as well as offering a quarterly in-depth analysis of a specific category of interest.

In its first issue, the report indicates that overall produce dollar sales per store rose by 3.2 per cent in comparison with the second quarter of 2007, while volume fell by 4.1 per cent.

Berries, bananas and apples led fruit sales in dollars per store, with packaged salads and tomatoes leading vegetable sales.

During the same period, the total value-added fruit category grew by 1.4 per cent, the report said, with fresh-cut fruit the most popular in this category, showing a growth of 0.8 per cent.

While total value-added vegetables fell 1.7 per cent, fresh side dishes were the most popular in the value-added vegetable category, increasing by1.3 per cent.

Entrée salads and prepared vegetables set the sales pace in the deli department during the quarter, followed by fruit salad and fruit platters. Vegetables platters in the deli increased by 10.5 per cent in dollar sales.

Organic fruits grew by 25.7 per cent in dollar sales and 16.2 per cent in volume, while organic vegetables rose by 22.2 per cent in dollar sales and 14.3 per cent in volume.

“Fresh Facts on Retail will provide important data on sales trends that are just not generally available without contracting directly with a research firm,” explained United Fresh president Tom Stenzel.

“United Fresh is committed to providing our members a growing array of valuable tools to enhance their business management, and we appreciate Del Monte’s support for this new initiative.”

In addition to the sales and trend data for fresh produce, this quarter’s category spotlight focused on fresh tomatoes and the impact of the FDA’s salmonella warning during the period.

In the second quarter, the report claimed that US retailers saw tomato sales decline by 4.6 per cent in value and 16.6 per cent in volume compared with the year earlier period.

However, the full impact of the FDA’s consumer warning was not felt until late in the quarter and continued into the third quarter of the year.