United Fresh: Fresh Facts on retail

From the inbox, report of the quarterly Fresh Facts on Retail from United:



United Fresh is pleased to release its quarterly research report, Fresh Facts on Retail, for the fourth quarter of 2008. �The report recaps retail sales trends for the top 10 fruits and vegetables, value-added and convenience produce items, emerging market opportunities such as fresh meals and salads sold in delis, and organic produce.� In addition, the year-end report includes analysis of the impact current economic conditions may be having on the produce market.
United Fresh members can download a copy of this report here for free.
Fresh Facts on Retail is sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce and produced in partnership with the Perishables Group which tracks and provides analysis of retails sales data.�
Key findings in this edition include:
In Q4 2008, produce department weekly sales per store were up 2.3% over the previous year, but this was likely due in large part to retail prices 6.1% above the prior year.
Volume of produce movement was down 3.6% for Q4 compared with the previous year.
Among the top 10 fruits, only grapes, strawberries and avocados were up in volume year-over-year.
Among the top 10 vegetables, not a single commodity showed volume increases.
Value-added fruits showed a decline of 6.5% in dollars and 6.0% in volume.
Value-added vegetables showed a decline of 4.9% in dollars, but a larger decline of 10.1% in volume.
Perhaps surprisingly, organic fruit and vegetables still showed slight increases in volume, with fruit up 5.6% and vegetables up 0.3%.
Looking across 2008, peppers, berries and bananas were the only categories to post positive growth every month of the year.
"The economy is clearly having an impact on these Q4 volume declines," said United Fresh Senior Vice President for Member Services Victoria Backer.� "But this won't be the end of the story, as produce companies and retailers are adapting to ways to move more produce even in these difficult times," she said.� "We're pleased that senior executives of the Perishables Group will be discussing these findings and additional research on ways to promote produce in the current economy during our upcoming United Fresh 2009 convention in Las Vegas."
Fresh Facts on Retail can be downloaded here free of charge to all United Fresh members, and for $50 to non-members. For questions about specific data contained in the report, please contact Kelli Beckel at the Perishables Group, at 773-929-7013.