Pink Lady® apple with sticker

The Co-op has switched to branded Pink Lady packaging in a major boost for the apple line.

As part of the deal a new four-fruit branded tray is available in small- and medium-sized Co-op stores, and the retailer has switched the format of its Pink Lady loose fruit boxes, improving waste management.

The modified packaging formats are now available in the vast majority of stores, according to master licensor Coregeo. Six-fruit bags are also selling alongside the other options.

Co-op fruit buyer Sarah Eldridge said: “We’re pleased to now be able to offer Pink Lady apples in every single one of our Co-op stores. Making changes across our ranges to improve waste management is really important to us, and this change not only does that but also ensures we’re offering the best packaging formats to Co-op customers.”

Maxime Delacour, assistant marketing officer at Coregeo, added: “We’ve been working hard with retailers to show them the benefits that fully-branded packaging offers to customers. As one of the few brands in the fresh produce category, working towards consistent packaging across major retailers is a key priority for us, so we’re thrilled to be rolling out branded packaging with the Co-op.

'We’ve got a really strong relationship with the Co-op thanks to their ongoing support for the brand over the years, so we’re really enthusiastic about working with them on this new packaging.”

The Co-op becomes the second UK retailer to offer Pink Lady apples in branded packaging. Value spend on Pink Lady apples in the UK rose by over 20 per cent last year, according to Coregeo.