Oppenheimer's Asian pears help differentiate category
Oppenheimer's Asian pears help differentiate category
The Oppenheimer Group's Southern Hemisphere pipfruit bill of fare experienced a boost in early March with the arrival of Chilean-grown Asian pears to Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
Jerry Kraft, West Coast pipfruit category coordinator for Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer, recently returned from the orchards of Chile where he got a first-hand look at the season's Asian pears.
"It's a clean crop," he said. "Sizing is a bit smaller this year with our fruit peaking at 14-18 count. We expect Oppenheimer's Chilean Asian pear volume to double over 2005 and for the quality to be very good. We have our own people on the ground in Chile, and they are very meticulous about assuring that the fruit for our customers meets our high standards."
Mr. Kraft believes that Asian pears give retailers an opportunity to differentiate the pear display and enhance category sales.
"Asian pears are unique in their distinctive round appearance and sweet, juicy flavor," he said. "Fresh pears are always appealing, but when merchandised well, Asian pears can help set the pear display apart. Our customers who have taken a chance and promoted these pears have been surprised by big results from a relatively small item."
Oppenheimer's yellow-skinned Shinseiki and brown-skinned Hosui pears from Chile are available now through April. The company will add volume with the brown Chilean Shinko and yellow Nijisseiki in late March.
Later this spring, the marketer will turn to New Zealand for its Asian pear supply, with "Enza" brand Hosui, Shinseiki and Nijisseiki volumes ramping up in April. A highlight of the season will be increased supply of the sought-after Hosui from New Zealand's Hamilton region. While the crop outlook is still fairly preliminary, history suggests that the fruit size will peak slightly larger than the Chilean pears, Mr. Kraft said. He noted that, due to differing size standards, the New Zealand-grown pears are packed slightly larger than those from other origins, adding value to the pack.
Jerry Kraft, West Coast pipfruit category coordinator for Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer, recently returned from the orchards of Chile where he got a first-hand look at the season's Asian pears.
"It's a clean crop," he said. "Sizing is a bit smaller this year with our fruit peaking at 14-18 count. We expect Oppenheimer's Chilean Asian pear volume to double over 2005 and for the quality to be very good. We have our own people on the ground in Chile, and they are very meticulous about assuring that the fruit for our customers meets our high standards."
Mr. Kraft believes that Asian pears give retailers an opportunity to differentiate the pear display and enhance category sales.
"Asian pears are unique in their distinctive round appearance and sweet, juicy flavor," he said. "Fresh pears are always appealing, but when merchandised well, Asian pears can help set the pear display apart. Our customers who have taken a chance and promoted these pears have been surprised by big results from a relatively small item."
Oppenheimer's yellow-skinned Shinseiki and brown-skinned Hosui pears from Chile are available now through April. The company will add volume with the brown Chilean Shinko and yellow Nijisseiki in late March.
Later this spring, the marketer will turn to New Zealand for its Asian pear supply, with "Enza" brand Hosui, Shinseiki and Nijisseiki volumes ramping up in April. A highlight of the season will be increased supply of the sought-after Hosui from New Zealand's Hamilton region. While the crop outlook is still fairly preliminary, history suggests that the fruit size will peak slightly larger than the Chilean pears, Mr. Kraft said. He noted that, due to differing size standards, the New Zealand-grown pears are packed slightly larger than those from other origins, adding value to the pack.
