UK retailer Tesco has introduced a new packaging design for avocados that will add two extra days of shelf life.
The new design uses a combination of UV light treatment and improved packaging film to extend freshness without any change in packaging volume or compromise in quality or flavour, according to Tesco.
Demand for the fruit has risen by over 10% in the last year at the UK retailer.
Development
The retailer has been developing the new design over several years of trials, due to the avocado’s increasing popularity and in a move to cut down on food waste.
The new packaging was developed by Tesco supplier and fruit and vegetable importers Greencell, who specialise in supplying avocados.
“Avocados have recently soared in popularity as a healthy snacking food, but, frustratingly, once ripe, they can deteriorate fairly quickly,” said Mike Corbett, Tesco avocado expert.
“This fantastic new packaging will help cut down on food waste by offering customers up to an extra two days of storage time,” Corbett added.
The newly packaged avocados will go on sale in 1,300 Tesco stores in a ‘ripe and ready to eat’ twin-pack format, priced at £1.89.
Avocado Varieties
The retailer also recently introduced the Avozilla, which is an avocado roughly five times larger than regular varieties.
The retailer brought ‘gourmet’ avocados to its shelves in September 2017, which feature a smoother and creamier taste, as well as a thicker skin, due to the fact that they stay on the tree for a longer period of time.
Additionally, it also began selling Zilla Eggs (miniature avocados) and frozen avocado slices, to make the fruit more convenient and reduce waste for customers and suppliers.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Kevin Duggan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
