Retailer sees promotional opportunities for apples throughout the year
Retailer sees promotional opportunities for apples throughout the year
The apple does not fall far from promotional opportunities for Modesto, CA-based Save Mart Supermarkets Inc.
Rick Smith, director of produce and floral for Save Mart, said that his philosophy has always been that apples can sell year-round.
"We try to promote some apple every week," Mr. Smith said. "We try to buy domestic and local first.
Mr. Smith's domain is the 80 or so Save Mart and S-Mart stores, all located throughout California. As soon as California apples become available, Save Mart will promote them.
Prior to joining Save Mart, Mr. Smith was corporate vice president of produce for the Safeway supermarket chain.
California-grown Fuji apples are the top seller for Save Mart. Mr. Smith said that he thinks California apples have been competitive on price but that apples from the Northwest tend to size up better and have better color. Consumers tend to buy with their eyes, he said.
Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious varieties are popular at Save Mart and beyond. Nationwide, Red Delicious is the most popular apple, though there are not a lot grown in California. Varietals such as Cameo, Pink Lady and Braeburn have come on in recent years, Mr. Smith said. Fifteen or 20 years ago, apples accounted for 10 -12 percent of the produce department revenue for California supermarkets.
Today, apples still hold up at about 10 percent of the revenue, he said. Apple sales had dipped in the early 1990s but have made a comeback, he said. California growers have done a good job of cross-pollinating varieties, he said.
Imports of Gala apples have mostly cleaned out of stores, Mr. Smith told The Produce News Aug. 3. F.o.b.s on imported Fujis and Galas are expensive, so the market is tight, he said.
Storewide data for the months of April, May and June showed apples holding the fifth position in Save Mart's produce department, Mr. Smith said, behind the value-added salad category (which includes such things as fresh-cut fruit), tomatoes, bananas and melons.
(A full report on California apples appears in the Aug. 15 issue of The Produce News.)
Rick Smith, director of produce and floral for Save Mart, said that his philosophy has always been that apples can sell year-round.
"We try to promote some apple every week," Mr. Smith said. "We try to buy domestic and local first.
Mr. Smith's domain is the 80 or so Save Mart and S-Mart stores, all located throughout California. As soon as California apples become available, Save Mart will promote them.
Prior to joining Save Mart, Mr. Smith was corporate vice president of produce for the Safeway supermarket chain.
California-grown Fuji apples are the top seller for Save Mart. Mr. Smith said that he thinks California apples have been competitive on price but that apples from the Northwest tend to size up better and have better color. Consumers tend to buy with their eyes, he said.
Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious varieties are popular at Save Mart and beyond. Nationwide, Red Delicious is the most popular apple, though there are not a lot grown in California. Varietals such as Cameo, Pink Lady and Braeburn have come on in recent years, Mr. Smith said. Fifteen or 20 years ago, apples accounted for 10 -12 percent of the produce department revenue for California supermarkets.
Today, apples still hold up at about 10 percent of the revenue, he said. Apple sales had dipped in the early 1990s but have made a comeback, he said. California growers have done a good job of cross-pollinating varieties, he said.
Imports of Gala apples have mostly cleaned out of stores, Mr. Smith told The Produce News Aug. 3. F.o.b.s on imported Fujis and Galas are expensive, so the market is tight, he said.
Storewide data for the months of April, May and June showed apples holding the fifth position in Save Mart's produce department, Mr. Smith said, behind the value-added salad category (which includes such things as fresh-cut fruit), tomatoes, bananas and melons.
(A full report on California apples appears in the Aug. 15 issue of The Produce News.)
