Fresh veg and fruit sales rise

CONSUMERS spent €833 million on fresh produce in the year ending May 2003. That was a 10% increase on the year before, according to Bord Glas.

Of this total, vegetable sales account for 322m, potato sales for €174m and fruit sales, €337m. Irish households spend €641m on fresh produce, making 141 purchases on average per annum.

The figures also shows the largest bulk of consumer spending is in multiple supermarkets which account for 77% of fresh produce retail sales.

The figures were revealed at the Bord Glas retail display awards. Superquinn, Pavilion Shopping Centre, Swords, Co Dublin won the national award for its fruit and vegetable display.

Regional award winners included O’Connor’s SuperValu, Donegal Shopping Centre, Donegal; Superquinn, Castletroy, Co Limerick; Tesco, Navan Shopping Centre, and Tesco, Sligo Shopping Centre.