While exotics is undoubtedly a wide-ranging and broad category, there are a few key consumer favourites which define any given period in the trade.

The pineapple is among these flagship items, and this quarter has proved a rocky one for supplying the UK with the product. Del Monte has perhaps been the most active of the big companies in the market during the period. The fresh produce giant unveiled its whole prepared pineapple as part of its Naked Fruit range using its premium Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple, initially launching it into Tesco and Budgens.

It also said pineapple sales had been a highlight in an otherwise difficult period for the company. The group reported that net income fell to $21.1 million through the second quarter of the year, down from the $52.2m recorded in the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile Fyffes reported it had struggled in the banana and pineapple categories with pre-tax profit falling 28 per cent through the first six months of 2010, down to €13.1m from the €18.1m recorded last year.

On the markets the pineapple job has been no less challenging. Jay Thakrar of Shipley’s on Western International Market reports that prices have gone from 1100-1200p for 6s and 7s two weeks ago to 400-500p now, largely due to a promotion on the product by Del Monte in France taking large volumes.

One importer said: “The market over the last four weeks has been tough. Sales in northern Europe have been weak due to high pricing but forecasts are for more product to be available so there may be opportunities for promotions in the near future.”

The kiwifruit sector has been pretty tight in the last few weeks, according to sources. Chilean 33s made 500-600p on one wholesale market last week, as opposed to an average of 330p for the same count. But with Italian sendings around a week away, and set to start at around 280-330p, it is likely to become a more plentiful market imminently.

Outside of the day-to-day, the kiwi category was in the spotlight this quarter as New Zealand marketing desk Zespri won its high profile battle against Turners & Growers.

A ruling in the Auckland High Court case struck out all three of T&G’s claims. The High Court judgement established that the two elements of New Zealand’s Kiwifruit Export Regulations 1999 questioned by T&G were legal, firming up the legislature framework upon which the Zespri model is based, and that industry regulator Kiwifruit New Zealand has exclusive jurisdiction to consider complains under the Regulations.

John Anderson, procurement manager at Univeg Direct, told FPJ the quality of melons coming into the UK from Spain over the last few weeks has been questionable, due to it being the end of the season. “New season Brazilian Yellow Melon is of excellent quality, however due to Spanish supply reducing, pricing has increased by at least €2 for a 10kg box for 7s and 8s to €8 a box two weeks ago,” he said.

“I anticipate the Brazilian prices will drop in the next two weeks or so once supply becomes stronger.” Anderson also said the company’s work on Fairtrade melons was progressing well and Brazilian product is set to enter the market in October.

In the mango game, trading has been difficult for “quite a while”, according to insiders. The natural average prices for 8s and 9s is around 600p but prices have hit 1100-1200p consistently throughout the year. Israeli Carmel-branded mangoes should help ease up the market but it could still prove a tricky category in the coming weeks.

Pomegranates from various sources have proved popular on the UK wholesale markets. Spanish product has offered the best value while Indian and Israeli pomegranates have proved aesthetically pleasing for customers.

Figs have also gained attention with new season Israeli product coming on stream. Brazilian figs have garnered around 800p for 24s in recent weeks while Carmel-branded figs can be bought for around 360-400p as the market begins to level out.

Also emanating form Israel, dates of excellent eating quality have been making between 2400p and 2800p for 5kg on Bristol, Liverpool and Western International markets.

Overall, sources believe the next quarter could be a stronger one for exotics as the return of schoolchildren, the approaching Halloween and the colder weather sees consumers reaching for something a little different.

Israeli prepared pomegranate thrives as Asda shows initiative

UK consumers have moved more towards buying prepared pomegranate arils than the wholehead product this year, and as the first pomegranates of the new Israeli season begin to arrive in the UK, MTEX UK general manager Marius du Plessis discusses the firm’s work in the category and its relationship with Asda

The first volume of Israeli grown fruit enters the market this month, with the Aco and Hershkovitz varieties paving the way for the extremely popular Wonderful strain. The UK buys pomegranates from the US and India, as well as Israel, but MTEX fruit from Israel has a clean run at the market from mid-October through to the end of the season in February 2011. There are several interesting varieties.

Aco is being hailed as “the new king” of pomegranates. An early variety, available from mid-August to the end of September, Aco has a sweet taste and a red wine colour both internally and externally. Its shelf life of three to four weeks from arrival in the market make it a very attractive variety to import and handle.

Hershkovitz is a mid-season variety, available from mid-September to late-October, and is red both internally and externally. A sweet variety with high acid levels, like Aco, Hershkovitz has three to four weeks shelf life from arrival.

Wonderful is the best-recognised pomegranate and is a late-season variety, available from around October 20 to mid-February. Wonderful has a dark red internal colour and lighter red skin. The variety has an ideal brix and acid ratio for the UK market, giving it the taste that has made it famous. Wonderful has a shelf life of up to two months - the longest available in the market - and has firmly established itself as the market leader over the last five years.

MTEX supplies Asda through International Produce and the 2010-11 season for Israeli fruit has already begun well, said Asda buyer Dean Hayden. “Sales to this point are significantly higher, largely because last season was a late starter,” he explained. “Israeli fruit has been smaller so far, which is a drawback as UK shoppers looks at size as well as quality when making their purchasing decision. There is a direct correlation between the size count on-shelf and sales through the supermarket sector and we expect the size profile to improve from the middle of the season onwards to drive sales.”

Consumer push

The continuing consumer push for more convenient products means that the ratio between prepared and wholehead is 2.5:1. “There is a lot to be done to educate the consumer as most shoppers of prepared don’t even know where the seeds they are buying come from or, often, what a pomegranate actually looks like,” said Hayden.

“Not surprisingly there is a high ethnic component in the UK consumer profile for pomegranates and these costumers are more aware of the cost effectiveness of buying wholehead fruit. There is also a large group of consumers that has been driven to the category by healthy-lifestyle advice and the boom of pomegranates as super foods,” he added.

MTEX will attempt to do its bit to increase consumer awareness, through box talkers, leaflets and in-store samplings, and the company can also take advantage of the prevailing consumer trend with its Arils Removal Tool (ART), which won this year’s Fruit Logistica Innovation Award, in Berlin in February.

ART is a simple and clever tool for pitting pomegranates quickly, cleanly and easily, removing one of the key reasons why consumers do not buy into the category. The shape and size of a lemon press, the tool comprises a bowl to catch the seeds, a grid and a flexible silicone dome. After removing the crown, the pomegranate is cut in half, placed on the grid and covered with the silicone dome. A tablespoon or a similar object can then be used to strike the pomegranate through the dome so that the seeds simply drop into the bowl beneath.

The dome also protects clothing from the rich red pomegranate juice. ART was launched in September 2009 and is available from MTEX in red and white colours. âñ

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