Due to weather conditions, potato production was lower than usual and now it is time to take stock of the situation. "We estimate that we will have Selenella potatoes for another 5-6 weeks, or a little more," began Massimo Cristiani, president of the Consortium. "That's a shorter period than in a normal year."
Yields in 2023 were lower than the average for other harvest years, due first to flooding and then to drought. "We're going to try to match Sicily's early varieties," he says, "and we will see if we can do it. We are keeping to our schedules and our goal is to make our customers happy," he added.
Massimo Cristiani
Selenella has the advantage of being a well-established brand. It has not experienced a decline in sales compared to the generic product. "It is clear that the lack of supply on the one hand and lower yields on the other have led to stagnation, if not market decline, for all potatoes. Our case is different because our brand has maintained its market positioning without a drop in demand. There is no doubt that brand awareness plays a key role. This year, for example, we did not even carry out any special promotional activities, precisely because we had less product and because sales were always fast."
Compared to a normal year, the average price of potatoes has generally increased by 15 to 20 percent. In terms of consumption, "we closed 2023 with satisfactory results, and in recent weeks at the Marca fair in Bologna, we presented our wide range of high-quality products, which, in addition to potatoes, also includes carrots and onions. This is an important lineup that confirms our Consortium's constant commitment to the Italian wholesale and large-scale retail trade, which has always been at the center of our efforts," concludes Cristiani.
For more information:
Consorzio Patata Italiana di QualitÃ
Via Tosarelli 155
40050 Villanova di Castenaso (BO)
Tel.: +39 051 5872419