Specialty fruit sales are outpacing the overall fresh produce department in the US, according to a report by the Nielsen Perishables Group.
The category averaged sales of US$473 per store per week in the US during the 52 weeks ended 27 October 2012, the firm said, marking a 2.2 per cent increase against the year-earlier period.
Although the category contributed only 1.1 per cent to total produce sales in the US, Nielsen Perishables Group said its progress outpaced the growth of overall produce department sales, rising by 1.1 per cent.
Nielsen Perishables Group told Americafruit that specialty fruit sales are being driven by the continued expansion in US consumer appetites for global flavours and fare.
The firm considers mangoes, kiwifruit, papayas, pomegranates, dates, tomatillos, coconuts, figs, persimmons and exotic items such as star fruit, quince and passion fruit to be part of the specialty fruit category.
During the 52-week period ended 27 October the four top-selling specialty fruits – mangoes, kiwifruit, papayas and pomegranates – represented 80 per cent of category sales with mangoes leading the way accounting for 39 per cent of category sales.
The full report is published in the February/March issue of Americafruit. To subscribe, go to www.fruitnet.com/subscribe
