"We have a long tradition in Norway of taking the oranges with you when you are out skiing during the Easter period, but with the combination of warm weather and a late Easter, this year has been different. There is no snow in the central part of Norway, which has really affected sales. Consumers having already switched over to popular springtime fruits like melons and watermelons." shared Asbjorn Hauane from Norwegian importer Interfrukt.What also might not have helped is that supermarket chains ran campaigns last year for oranges in February and March, but didn't run any this year. When asked if the decrease in orange consumption had anything to do with the increase in popularity of easy-peelers, he said that he didn't think so because clementines from Spain and Morocco are very popular during November and December.
Blueberry sales up
While orange sales are down, Asbjorn reported that blueberry sales are up at the moment after supermarkets have been running campaigns, selling them at low prices.
"The blueberry campaign has made things difficult, because while the supermarkets are selling the berries between €1.00 to €2.25 for one punnet (sometimes two) of 125 grams, importers are paying €22.50 for a 12x 125gr box from Rotterdam. We are paying the higher prices at the moment because of the gap in supplies, while the Southern Hemisphere is winding down and we are waiting on the new supplies from Morocco and Spain. These campaigns are planned months in advance so it is difficult, just as we have been now, to make sure that they don't fall into the gap period." said Asbjorn.
For more
information:Asbjorn Hauane
Interfrukt
Tel: +47 23 37 54 00
Email: firmapost@interfrukt.no
www.interfrukt.no