Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Melons have overtaken pineapples as Britain’s fastest growing fruit with their current popularity at an all-time high, according to Tesco.
The supermarket chain now stocks 10 different varieties including a citrus flavoured one with orange flesh and another with white flesh. And next month it will launch a bright yellow flesh watermelon, as opposed to the regular red-fleshed variety.
In the last year, demand for melons has grown by 13% – with the Yellow Honeydew variety by far the most popular, accounting for a third of all UK sales.
Tesco melons buyer Joe Baines said: “Traditionally melon sales grow during the summer and then fall in the winter months but this didn’t happen last year, as the autumn and winter were so mild. Since last summer, sales have continued to soar.
“But we also know from customer research that melons, like pineapples, are now seen as value-for-money healthy centre piece desserts that can help kids eat more fruit.
“We’ve also heard of adults scooping out the seeds and then filling melons up with their alcoholic spirit of choice, and leaving them to chill in the fridge all day, ready for a delicious fruit cocktail in the evening.”
“Most people would find it hard to name more than three varieties but Britain is experiencing a kind of melon-mania right now.”
