KIKU brand apples set records for April performance

KIKU apples set supermarket sales records for April, leading performance in the apple category according to just released data from Nielsen Perishables Group. For the most recent four week period ending April 29, 2015, U.S. supermarket sales of KIKU increased by 484%, the largest increase in the apple category. KIKU volume increased by 615%.

Steve Lutz, vice president of marketing for CMI, says that the strong performance for KIKU is all the more impressive given the record storage holdings and wide availability of apples. “During April, KIKU had stronger increases in sales and volume than every other branded apple or any individual variety. It’s quite stunning,” says Lutz. “Nielsen data breaks out 40 different apple brands and varieties. No other apple came close to matching this performance.”

According to Lutz, the category sales increases being driven by branded apples like KIKU is good news for retailers struggling with dollar deflation in the apple category. The record apple harvest last fall resulted in low pricing through the entire season, driving down prices at the supermarket level. According to Nielsen, for the most recent four week period ending April 29, 2015, apple category retail pricing declined by 6.9%.

Robb Myers, CMI’s vice president of sales, says high value apples like KIKU are having a significant impact in driving category performance for retailers. “If you examine performance of the top 15 selling apple brands and varieties, only five generated dollar increases for supermarkets over the same period last year. Other than Honeycrisp every growth item was a branded apple like KIKU.”

Myers says KIKU is well positioned for continued growth well into the summer months. “We have strong alliances with incredible growers in New Zealand,” says Myers. “We have a full supply of imported KIKU ready to go right now for retailers looking to drive incremental growth in the apple category.”