The Mango Association is preparing for the third National Mango Week to be held from September 8 -14.

Supported by the major grocery multiples, the promotion combines in-store activity with a consumer PR campaign to boost sales.

Chairman of the Mango Association, Mark Moody said: "National Mango Week 2002 was a great success. UK Mango sales rose to £2.7m in September 2002, 70 per cent up on August and 57 per cent up on September 2001. Consumer penetration was up two per cent on the previous September.

The average amount spent by consumers buying mangoes during September reached £1.88 per trip, the highest four week level ever recorded. With these figures in mind, we've got ambitious targets to meet to grow National Mango Week this year, but we're confident that, with promotions in place across the entire grocery market, we'll see another period of stunning mango sales."

In addition to the retail push, this year's National Mango Week has a food service focus, encouraging chefs in pubs, restaurants and hotels to use mangoes on their menus. With a PR and marketing campaign, which demonstrates the fruit's versatility, chefs are being encouraged to think about new ways of using the fruit with a competition encouraging them to share their favourite recipes with The Mango Association with the prize of a trip to the mango groves of South Africa to the most inspiring entry.

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