Dessert apples have retained their place at the top of the FPJ’s Big 50 Products annual ranking with value growth of 5.6 per cent during the last year.
A difficult growing season has proved challenging for dessert apple growers, with volume sales declining by 2.2 per cent, but overall the category remains upbeat and prepared for further growth.
In second place was the grapes category, a non mover with 4.4 per cent and two per cent value and volume growth respectively. Tomatoes were third, followed by bananas, up one place due to price inflation boosting value by three per cent.
Strawberries dropped one place in the list, but retained a spot in the top five and gained slight value growth of 1.1 per cent.
The biggest fallers were cherries, down 16.4 per cent in value, and parsnips, down 11 per cent.
Soft fruit in general performed well thanks to double-digit growth in blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, as well as salad veg products and tropical fruit.
“The past year has been a turbulent one for the fresh produce trade, with Brexit raising major question marks and concerns about the future of the industry,” said FPJ Big 50 Products editor, Fred Searle.
“For the time being, the sector is in healthy shape, with all but 13 of this year’s Big 50 Products enjoying sales growth – albeit less explosive rises than we saw in certain categories the year before.
“And while the supermarket price war continues to affect certain products, such as parsnips and carrots, in other categories growers have breathed a sigh of relief as some price inflation returns. This is a welcome development given the slower volume growth seen this time around.
“The take-home message: things are looking good for now, but big challenges lie ahead.”
The FPJ Big 50 Products in association with Kantar Worlpanel, with figures provided for the 52 weeks to 21 May 2017.
Extra copies of the FPJ Big 50 Products 2017 are available for £25.
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