Too hard, too green, or overripe: finding the perfect avocado in the supermarket is sometimes a struggle. Supermarket chain Jumbo, however, has found a handy solution. From now on, their Ranst and Veurne stores in Belgium will boast an X-ray device that tells you exactly what your avocado looks like on the inside.
In recent years, the craving for avocados has been insatiable. This so-called green gold rapidly became incredibly popular in Belgium, from freshly made guacamole to trendy avocado toast. But finding the perfect avocado is sometimes another story. These new avocado scanners now ensure that this is a thing of the past.
The perfect avocado in an instant
To see the exact status of your avocado, all you need to do is hold it in front of the scanner. Within a few seconds, you will know the condition of your favorite green fruit. The avocado scanner uses a mini X-ray to check the sugar, water, and starch values. It uses that information to determine the avocado's internal texture. The score on the device indicates how ripe your avocado is. So, no more squeezing avocadoes to judge their ripeness.
Philippe Calliauw, who runs Jumbo Ranst, says, "Our new avocado scanner now lets shoppers effortlessly pick the perfect avocado without needing to squeeze the fruit. We want to offer everyone who shops here a positive experience, and the scanner contributes to that. It's a fun addition to the shopping experience and shows we're committed to providing our customers with the best service."
Jumbo Veurne's Siska Abeele and Justin Robaeys are also excited about the new gadget: "People are very curious about the avocado scanner and are eager to try it out. And since we installed it, avocado sales have increased. Shoppers enjoy a better shopping experience, and our avocados are flying off the shelves: it seems like a win-win."
Expansion to other Jumbo stores
These scanners' deployment is part of a test to assess whether they can be used in other stores, too. This is a first in Belgium, though Jumbo started using something similar in the Netherlands in November last year.
Source: Jumbo