Pushed by national promotions and a 25% increase in distribution, Ambrosia™ apples are riding a retail wave all the way to the cash register. Over the past 13 weeks, a record 14,022 supermarkets put Ambrosia™ on the shelves for consumers. The result: During this period, Nielsen data shows Ambrosia™ ranked #9 in total dollars among all apple varieties and had the strongest growth of any apple in the top 10 nationally.
“Ambrosia has broken into a new level,” said Steve Lutz, Vice President of Marketing for CMI. “The biggest challenge for any club variety apple is to make the jump from being a niche item to a year-round item. The sales data show that Ambrosia™ have bridged the gap to becoming a ‘must have’ apple for retailers.”
With a large national crop, apple prices and retail shelf prices have been lower throughout the entire 2014/15 season. Over the most recent 13-week period from November through January, Nielsen scan data shows that total U.S. apple dollars increased less than 1% while volume increased only slightly by 2.3%. In contrast, during this same period Ambrosia™ apple sales skyrocketed and dollars jumped 19%. The increase in Ambrosia™ sales led performance of the top 10 apple varieties during the period. Honeycrisp dollars increased by 15% followed by Pink Lady (+7%) and Granny Smith (+2%). All other apple varieties in the top 10 declined in year over year sales during the period.
“It’s just really gratifying to see consumers and retailers alike discover Ambrosia, “ said Lutz. “The sales success speaks for itself.”
About CMI
Columbia Marketing International (CMI) is one of Washington State’s largest growers, shippers and packers of premium quality pears, apples, cherries and organics. Based in Wenatchee, WA, CMI delivers outstanding fruit across the U.S.A. and exports to over 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.cmiapples.com
Source: Columbia Marketing International (CMI)