Apples are back in pole position when it comes to consumer spend on fruit.
Bananas, which had originally displaced apples as the UK’s number one fruit have slipped back over the past two years, while apples are up by around 13 per cent in value.
According to TNS data, apples are now worth around £649.1 million, 24 per cent ahead of bananas at £522.7m. This compares with two years ago, when bananas held a value of £605.2m to the apple sectors £574.3m.
Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears, expressed sympathy with banana industry, which has seen the sectors value eroded by retailer price cuts.
“We can’t forget there’s been a tremendous amount of price cutting and the banana industry has been complaining about that because it’s doing nothing for sales.”
He called for a move away from the fixation on price: “It’s doing nothing but damaging producers. We need to focus on providing quality and safety and good value for money. We can see consumption increase without having to slash prices.”
Over the last couple of years, bananas have seen price eroded from above £1 a kilo down to around 74p a kg.
However, Barlow was pleased with the success the apple industry has had and said the sector has also seen some volume uplift as well.
The success is down to improvements in the apple sector and a better balance between supply and demand, he said, adding that the fruit has also benefited from the focus on healthy eating with 5 a day and the obesity debate.
See this week's FPJ Apple Supplement, available in the freshinfo store, for more.
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