Irish Retail Fresh Produce Market in Growth - Mike Neary

According to Kantar Worldpanel the total Irish retail grocery market was valued at €8.9bn to the year ending March 2013. This is a modest growth of 0.2% on the previous year. In the same period the volume purchased has remained static. Fresh produce makes up 14% of the total grocery market which includes the categories Potatoes, Vegetables and Fruit.

The total fresh produce retail category is currently valued at €1.23bn to the year ending March 2013 which is a 3% increase in value on the previous year. An increase in the volume purchased and the overall average price have contributed to this growth. Both the volume per buyer and the frequency of purchase have increased with the latter up by 3.6%.

The retail vegetable market was valued at €525m which is showing a modest increase on the previous year of 0.2%. While there has been an increase in the volume purchased, the overall average price paid is lower. Both volume per buyer and frequency of purchase have increased. Similarly the spend on fruit has also shown a modest increase with this category valued at €526m, up 0.5% year on year. Volume per buyer for fruit also increased as did the purchase frequency (by over 4%).

The potato category has shown the greatest value sales increase (up 28%) but with the volume remaining relatively static. This increase is linked to a much tighter supply situation for potatoes due to reduced production yields in the 2012 growing season brought about by the adverse weather and subsequent growing conditions.

Source: BordBia - Irish Retail Fresh Produce Market in Growth - Mike Neary