Poland is a market with a great potential for the Chilean avocado, according to a report from the ProChile office in that country. In fact, consumption of this product in Poland has significantly increased from 2012 to date, which means that Chile has also steadily increased its exports. According to data from Trade Map, in 2016 Chilean exports of avocado to Poland amounted to US $ 1.28 million, i.e. 86.73% more than in the previous year, accounting for 4.42% of the total supply of the Polish market.
The avocado is considered a healthy food and the Polish follow the global trend of incorporating this type of products into their diet. In fact, according to ProChile's report, the last census conducted in 2015 indicated that 47% of Poles consumed more fruits and vegetables than 5 years ago.
The report also states that avocado consumption is evenly distributed throughout the territory, although consumption in major cities and summer resorts are particularly noteworthy.
Avocado consumption in Poland has also increased as consumers can buy this product throughout the year, given the diversity of suppliers that the Polish market has.
"The Polish market for fresh avocados is growing strongly and demand is expected to continue to grow. In addition to domestic consumption, the Polish market is a reprocessing and re-export market that requires supply throughout the year from both hemispheres," stressed the report.
In fact, according to TradeMap, Chile is the country's seventh supplier of avocados, after Spain, Israel, South Africa, Peru, Germany, the Netherlands, Chile, and Brazil. It is necessary to consider Germany and the Netherlands don't produce avocados but reexport them from other countries to Poland.
As in many other countries, the best way to reach the end consumer in Poland is through retail chains, whether they be hyper markets or supermarkets, as well as discount store networks and convenience stores.
"It is important to highlight the main players' growing interest in directly purchasing the product from the producer and exporters to avoid the chain of intermediaries," stated ProChile.
Meanwhile, the wholesale distribution is carried out through the large wholesale warehouse networks.
In this area, importers of raw materials are also important players in Poland, as they reprocess, repackage and resend certain horticultural products with added value to EU markets.
In 2016, the Polish government planned to introduce a new tax linked to the turnover of stores and supermarkets, together with the restriction on Sunday trade. However, these measures have not materialized so far due to the opposition from businessmen and Institutions.
However, they are not the only ways to access the Polish market. Other formulas are traditional fairs, "where 15% of consumers of fresh fruit shop," says the ProChile study.
One of the forms of commercialization that is growing significantly is e-commerce, although, according to ProChile's report, there is uncertainty as to how it could be affected by the proposed new regulations, since, in principle, it would be exempt from the constraints that would affect traditional trade.
Among the recommendations made by the commercial office is focusing on educating consumers and explaining, among other things, the differences between avocado varieties.
Progression of shipments
* US $ 199 thousand in 2013
* US $ 257 thousand in 2014
* US $ 686 thousand in 2015
* US $ 1.28 million in 2016
Source: El Mercurio