Kanzi apple season hits peak volume, sales gains lead category
Kanzi apple season hits peak volume, sales gains lead category
Shipments of U.S.-grown Kanzi brand apples are peaking and over the next few weeks will set new records for retail sales performance. During the past 52 weeks, flavor-intense Kanzi apples have been one of the brightest stars of the apple category, increasing in sales by over 87 percent.
Robb Myers, vice president of sales at CMI, said retail interest in Kanzi is very high. “Kanzi apples are really turning heads at the retail level,” he said in a press release. “Over the past year, apple category dollars are down, yet Kanzi is still driving incredible growth.”
Myers noted that sales of Kanzi apples in the U.S. peak between March 15 and May 1. “This is the time for Kanzi,” said Myers. “Kanzi flavor develops in storage so we release it in late winter just as sales momentum in the apple category is beginning to slow.
“There is nothing like a new item to invigorate category sales,” Myers added.
The season for Washington state-grown Kanzi apples extends through the end of April when imported Kanzi arrive from New Zealand.
Steve Lutz, vice president of marketing for CMI, said national retail scan data results document the strong performance by Kanzi. According to Lutz, Nielsen data reveal that over the past year, Kanzi had the No. 1 dollar growth rate among the 35 best-selling varieties in the United States.
“We’re seeing Kanzi selling successfully in nearly 3,500 stores nationally,” Lutz said. “The next six weeks are prime time for retailers to let their shoppers try this spectacular new apple.”
