Posts Tagged “Kanzi apples”
by Columbia Marketing International (CMI)
Shipments of U.S. grown Kanzi® brand apples are peaking and over the next few weeks will set new records for retail sales performance. During the past 52 weeks, flavor-intense Kanzi® have been one of the brightest stars of the apple category, increasing in sales by over 87%.
Robb Myers, Vice President of Sales at CMI reports retail interest in Kanzi® is very high. “Kanzi apples are really turning heads at the retail level,” said Myers. “Over the past year, apple category dollars are down, yet Kanzi® is still driving incredible growth.”
Myers says that between March 15 and May 1, sales of Kanzi® apples in the U.S. peak. “This is the time for Kanzi®,” said Myers. “Kanzi® flavor develops in storage so we release it in late winter just as sales momentum in the apple category is beginning to slow.”
“There is nothing like a new item to invigorate category sales,” said Myers.
Myers added that the season for this Washington State apple extends through the end of April when imported Kanzi® arrive from New Zealand.
Steve Lutz, Vice President of Marketing for CMI, says national retail scan data results document the strong performance by Kanzi®. According to Lutz, Nielsen data reveals that over the past year, Kanzi® had the number one dollar growth rate among the 35 best-selling varieties in the U.S.
“We’re seeing Kanzi® selling successfully in nearly 3,500 stores nationally,” said Lutz. “The next six weeks are prime time for retailers to let their shoppers try this spectacular new apple.”
Washington-grown Kanzi brand apples are hitting retailers’ shelves on schedule, but production is limited. However, within five years growers expect to be able to ship half a million cartons annually.
This year’s crop is has turned out very well and doesn’t have the limitations the previous crop had in relation to a hail storm. U.S. Growers are adding trees to increase production and meet strong market demand. With the existing trees in the ground, and new plantings, it is estimated that within five years, production will hit nearly 500,000 cartons.
Even with that expanding production, demand is great enough to require imported Kanzi apples to supplement the domestic program. The imports are expected in spring after the domestic apples have sold out. Kanzi was originally developed in the European market by Greenstar Kanzi Europe and has features from its parents, Gala and braeburn apple varieties.
Kanzi is fresh bi-colored apple with a unique sweet-sour flavor, now grown in the Washington state’s Wenatchee Valley.
Kanzi, as a name, does not perhaps have the same gravitas as the old heritage apple varieties – yet. Fortunately this is a pretty good apple so we can let the name grow on us. Kanzi has been developed and marketed by Greenstar Kanzi Europe (GKE) and first came on to the market in 2006. Most supplies are from the Netherlands.