What is it all about?

This investment, which ran during 2023, assisted retailers to improve the instore presentation (appearance and quality) of apples and pears by increasing the store produce staff’s understanding of best practice merchandising principles.

Weekly audits were conducted in retail stores, guaranteeing the apple and pear displays met exceptional standards. These visits not only upheld quality in-store but also gathered valuable intel for the apple and pear industry for future investment."

Key activities included:

1. Daily data collection: Data on the quality of apple’s and pears was collected on a daily basis.

2. Automated dashboard: Results were accessible in real-time through an automated dashboard, facilitating ongoing monitoring and analysis.

3. Weekly summary reports: Comprehensive reports highlighting the campaign's progress were consistently delivered, offering insights into the how the program was tracking.

4. Educational resources: The project team developed educational materials to retail stores, including QR codes for training videos and feedback surveys. This enhanced the overall effectiveness of the program, ensuring seamless communication and engagement.

The program facilitated improvements in the quality of apples and pears. Quality of fruit across the program was two per cent higher in 2023 compared to that of 2022 driven by improvements in the quality and consistency in apples and pears. Quality of fruit improved the further the program progressed. Importantly, the trending direction remained positive for the duration of the program with 2023 ending ahead of 2022.

Improvements were driven by high levels of awareness and better handling practices by retail staff and early identification of defects ensuring higher standards on shelf.