Sales review: Tomatoes

By Haley Hastings

Warmer months lead to increased tomato sales.

The tomatoes category contributed 5.3% to produce department dollar sales for the 52 weeks ended January 31, steady compared to the previous year. Tomatoes made up 12.3% of total vegetable sales as average tomato dollar sales increased slightly. Average volume per store per week remained steady compared to the previous year, while the average retail price for tomatoes increased 2.8%.

Nationally, tomato sales peaked the week of the Fourth of July (the week ended July 5) at $3,313 per store. The second highest selling week for tomatoes occurred the week of Memorial Day (the week ended May 31) at $3,056 per store. Tomatoes also posted high average weekly sales between June 1 and June 21. The lowest selling weeks for tomatoes occurred during September; the week ended September 27, posted the lowest sales at $2,150 per store.   

During the tracked period tomatoes in the East and South regions posted the highest contribution to produce department sales at 5.5%. The East region posted the highest average weekly sales at $3,396 per store, steady compared to the previous year. Each of the three remaining U.S. regions posted average dollar growth compared to the previous year. The West region posted the highest dollar growth during this time, up 6.5% to $2,589 per store per week.

The highest-selling tomato sub-category was snacking tomatoes at $805 per store per week, 30.8% of total tomato sales. Hothouse on the vine was the second highest selling tomato category at 25.7% of total tomato sales. Roma, field and hothouse round collectively accounted for 43.4% of total tomato sales.