Market Minute: Promote new crop imported grapes now

Imported grapes are arriving and are ready for promotion in weekly produce ads. New crop Peruvian grapes are showing outstanding color, sizing and are full of flavorful eating quality. The Chilean grapes will also be arriving regularly as well, opening the market for some great ad promotions.

Grapes are one of the top fruit items that will generate high sales volume in the produce departments. That’s why retail produce directors like promoting them often in their weekly ad flyers. The standard size imported carton of grapes (often termed as lugs) are typically 18 pounds. As an example, an 18-pound carton promoted for instance at $2.99 will generate $53.82 worth of sales per carton. Start adding that up per carton sold and it will return some exceptional sales and profit to the produce operation.

The best way to merchandise grapes is on an end cap or free-standing display fixture. Use some of the original cartons to build up your display and waterfall the product onto the top cartons. Make sure the bottom cartons are empty and place false bottoms in the top row of cartons to prevent shrink. Give your display that full massive presentation. Stack the bagged grapes only two layers to prevent damaging them. Rotate thoroughly when restocking.

As always, get together with your grape suppliers for more information, quantities needed and pricing for ads. Your grape suppliers are well in tune with all there is to know and can help guide you with planning a successful promotion.

This article originally appeared on The Produce News.