Retail
Fruitnet’s coverage of key developments in the fresh produce retail arena.
Fyffes puts a spooky spin on Halloween pineapples
Retailers in the UK, Ireland and Germany are backing the push
Coles expands Halloween fresh range with Mini Wart pumpkin
Retailer provides edible and display fruit and vegetable options as Australian consumers embrace Halloween
Albert Bartlett launches first ad campaign with Andy Murray
Multi-channel campaign gets underway, inviting the nation to ‘Bring out their Best Side’ and ‘Feel Like a Champion in the Kitchen’
Coop Norway and BerryWorld team up for healthy Halloween
New Halloween blueberry pack aims to make healthy eating exciting and engaging for children
Aldi Colleague Shops aim to further reduce food waste
New initiative gives staff the opportunity to buy products that can’t be sold in stores
Ifco expands southern Italy operation with three new hubs
Reusable packaging specialist expands logistics footprint to strengthen regional partnerships and ensure container availability during peak seasons
Peru launches promotional avocado campaign across China
Online and in-store activations drive 50 per cent increase in market price
The robot from Del Monte says ‘buy my bananas’
Marketer confirms it is trialling automated merchandising units in three Chicago supermarkets to encourage shoppers to select its fruit
Revenue and profits up at Lidl GB
Discounter is continuing its expansion strategy in Britain
HM Clause says tomato disease resistance is just the start
HM Clause’s tomato breeding coordinator Katarzyna Grabka discusses the company’s intensified efforts to develop ToBRFV-resistant varieties, climate adaptation strategies, and new launches including Freeman and Centinela ahead of the Fruitnet Tomato Congress in Malaga
Hazera ramps up retailer engagement
Resistance and flavour or affordability and convenience? Tomato breeding company Hazera Seeds is engaging earlier with retailers to increase its consumer focus
One in 10 UK households are food-insecure, Food Foundation study shows
Pressure group calls for government to pledge to halve UK food insecurity levels in upcoming Child Poverty Strategy
Dole and Truval expand Smurfs campaign in China
Promotions for co-branded Belgian Conference pear to include in-store tastings across cities nationwide
Lidl outlines £30bn investment in British farming
Discounter also announces move to 100 per cent LEAF Marque certification on British fresh produce
Palestine Gardens exports dates against odds
Mo’men Sinokrot of Palestinian date specialist Palestine Gardens says the challenges to produce and export are severe, but the people’s commitment to the land remains steadfast
New housing among threats to future of UK orchards
Developers, local authorities and retailers can all play a part in securing the future of commercial, cider and community orchards, new report finds
IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show concludes after “transformative days”
The International Fresh Produce Association’s flagship event attracted attendees from more than 50 countries, with record buyer engagement and major announcements including a new data intelligence platform
Swede championed in new campaign involving schools, retailers and growers
School tastings, farm tours, limited edition varieties and traditional stories are all part of a major new campaign to reintroduce swede as a modern ingredient at the heart of Scottish food culture
A scary swap: Tesco to sell ‘monster’ swede for Halloween carving
Extra large ‘Monster Mash’ swede is being promoted ahead of Halloween in partnership with Scottish grower ESG Drysdale
Rijk Zwaan champions ToBRFV-resistant tomato varieties
Dutch seed specialist Rijk Zwaan continues to develop its portfolio of tomato varieties with high resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus, addressing one of the industry’s most pressing challenges
British Butternut gets campaign push
Seasonal squash is being promoted thanks to a new partnership between Veg Power, Barfoots, Waitrose and Sakata
Hazera’s Exotica mini watermelon wins Fresh Market Award 2025
Hazera’s seedless mini watermelon variety Exotica has claimed the prestigious Fresh Market Award 2025, with industry professionals recognising its quality, taste and commercial potential at the Polish trade event
Branston boosts volume in Nemo roasting variety
Producer will supply Tesco with 87 per cent more of the fast-cooking roasting variety this season amid strong demand
Rob Riggle fronts Avocados From Mexico campaign ahead of Super Bowl LX
The leading avocado brand has recruited the actor and comedian to front its in-store and on-pack activities as football fever builds
Aldi launches new logo to help shoppers make healthier choices
‘Live Healthy’ mark will highlight items that contribute to a healthy, balanced diet as discounter reaffirms commitment to supporting nutrition
Online sales return to Covid-era levels
Sales of online shopping at the supermarkets have risen by 12 per cent in the last four weeks, reaching highest share since March 2022
Coveris wins packaging company of the year
Packaging specialist picked up four wins at the UK Packaging Awards 2025, including best new concept and a nod for COO Jo Ormrod as Woman of the Year
LeaderBrand’s southern asparagus hits New Zealand shelves
New Zealanders will be able to buy South Island asparagus all the way through Christmas
Fruitist unveils Go Berry blueberry campaign
Premium supplier keen to open up new sales channels across Europe for its convenient snack pots
Fyffes launches major new marketing push in Morrisons
‘Eat ‘em, Like ‘em, Love ‘em’ campaign aims to boost banana and pineapple sales
Coles kickstarts Banana A-Peel with Little Athletics
Annual fundraiser sees portion of every Cavendish banana sale donated to the children’s sports organisation
Dutch rail passengers sample exclusive Bloss apples
Dutch grower cooperative FruitMasters kicks off its latest marketing campaign and seeks to build on variety’s three-star International Taste Institute rating
Sunrise Magic apples exceed expectations in challenging debut season
Fruit Australia Group’s debut Sunrise Magic apple harvest has exceeded expectations despite extreme weather, with the new variety demonstrating outstanding storage performance and receiving enthusiastic retailer feedback
Superfresh Growers expands Orchard Buddies packaging offerings
Children-focused organic product line now includes pears
Aldi ‘settles dispute with brassica suppliers’
The Grocer reports a conclusion to the case involving a row over delisting
Morrisons launches one-hour delivery service
Morrisons Now allows customers to order up to 30 items