Despite the effects of the economic downturn, including a drop-off in sales of some exotic fruits, sales of the Spanish persimon, a variety of kaki, are on the rise in the UK market, according to promotional company Foods From Spain.
In-store promotions, including tasting days, have been set up at major UK supermarkets Morrisons, Asda and Tesco in order to introduce more consumers to this unfamiliar exotic fruit.
“The market is expanding, albeit slowly,” says Janine Gilson, assistant director of Foods From Spain, “and more retailers are becoming interested in the fruit. Morrisons has been selling the Spanish persimon for five years, Tesco for three years, and Asda started selling it this year. Now the plan is to get others involved, including Sainsbury’s.”
The Spanish persimon is grown in a geographically protected region called Ribera del Xuquer, in the province of Valencia, and is available between mid-October and early December. The fruit’s quality is the key to its protected status, according to Ms Gilson.
In response to yesterday’s news that the Spanish kaki crop had suffered heavy losses due to strong winds, Ms Gilson said she was confident that there would be no impact on UK availability.
“Our suppliers have given us a guarantee that volumes to the UK will not be affected,” she told Fruitnet.com. “The UK is a very important market for them. It has shown a lot of interest in the Spanish persimon and provided a lot of support, so our suppliers are returning that loyalty.”
