PHILADELPHIA, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With bananas
at the top of most supermarkets' register rings, it pays for
distributors and produce managers to keep their banana inventories
and displays in top-notch form.
"The banana category is historically the largest retail produce
category. Since bananas are available year-round, an effective
prominent display draws customers into your produce department,"
said Kevin Frye, a banana
merchandising expert who has spent more than nine years working
with wholesale distributors and retailers in the produce industry.
Frye is currently the North American Sales Manager for Ripelock™
Quality System at AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.
"If the banana display looks appealing, customers will likely
buy more bananas, and they'll feel confident in the quality and
freshness of the other fruit in the store," he said.
Frye offers five tips for making the most of your banana
program:
- Strive for perfect color. Retailer experience shows that
consumers prefer to purchase and eat bananas at color stage 5 or 6,
when bananas have bright yellow peels and firm pulp. "If
bananas are too green or too ripe, customers will likely pass by
the display or purchase fewer bananas because they'll be afraid the
fruit will not taste good or go bad too quickly," said Frye.
One way to achieve and hold perfect color is through the RipeLock
Quality System. RipeLock works with the banana's natural ripening
process to maintain optimal color three to five days longer than
conventional bananas. That means, without increasing shrink,
produce managers can consistently offer bananas with the ideal
color that can lead to higher sales and repeat customers.
- Right-size your displays. If the banana display table is
too large, fruit doesn't turn over fast enough to maintain
freshness. Yet a table that is too small will require too-frequent
restocking. Also consider the traffic flow in the produce
department, since good-looking bananas can tempt an impulse buy as
well as a planned purchase.
"Regardless of display size, RipeLock helps keep bananas longer at
optimal color, without frequent restocking or extra deliveries,"
Frye said.
- Consider display surfaces. Since bananas bruise
easily, a soft padded surface is best. Be sure to display bananas
in a single layer with the stems up.
- Manage inventory. Accuracy in sales forecasting is
another key to a successful banana program – or a potential
headache for the produce manager.
"If the sales forecast is too high and the bananas don't sell fast
enough, the manager can't hold them to sell later. Unlike potatoes
or apples, bananas won't last a few days, let alone into next
week," Frye said. "On the other hand, if the sales forecast is too
low, the store may run out of yellow bananas and have to display
fruit that is too green for customer acceptance."
The RipeLock Quality System reduces that stress by giving managers
a broader window of freshness and more inventory flexibility – even
for stores with less frequent deliveries or no weekend deliveries.
With RipeLock, bananas last longer at the consumer-preferred yellow
color, both in the store and in the home.
- Don't forget the back room. An effective banana display
starts while fruit is staged for stocking. If the back room is
unrefrigerated or not air conditioned during hot weather, stored
bananas will continue to ripen — potentially beyond the optimal
color stage. "In most back-room environments, RipeLock eliminates
the need to open bags and reduces the need to 'air stack' boxes,"
Frye said.
"Your banana program is an essential component of a produce
department that can deliver loyal customers. Be sure you have
bananas available in the right color to meet consumer expectations
and the proper inventory to maximize your sales," he said.
For more information about the RipeLock Quality System, visit
AgroFresh.com/RipeLock or contact Kevin
Frye at kevinfrye@agrofresh.com.
About AgroFresh
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGFS/AGFSW) is a global fruit
and floral industry leader, providing a portfolio of innovative
products and specialty services to maintain the freshness, quality
and value of fresh produce and flowers. Its core products include
SmartFresh™, the proven post-harvest freshness
protection technology for produce; Harvista™, the
advanced pre-harvest technology for apples and pears; and
RipeLock™, the innovative post-harvest quality system
for bananas. AgroFresh currently operates commercially in more than
40 countries and employs more than 170 people worldwide. For more
information, visit www.AgroFresh.com.
™Trademark of AgroFresh Inc.
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SOURCE AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.