D’Anjou pears set for strong spring promotions 

D’Anjou pears are in line for good promotion opportunities as the bartlett season ends in the Northwest.

Brianna Shales, marketing director for Wenatchee-based Stemilt Growers, said in a news release that the firm’s Fruit Tracker analysis of Nielsen retail scan data show that d’Anjou pears made up one-third of category dollars and volume in 2020. With bartlett pears moving out of season and d’Anjou and red d’Anjou pears moving into the primary spots for the category, Shales said that retailers should consider both bulk and bags for everyday merchandising and frequent promotions. 

“Our d’Anjou pears are high quality, full of flavor, and a staple item for your upcoming advertising mix during for spring and early summer months,” she said in the release. “The Northwest is wrapping up a very successful Bartlett pear season, and that opens the door for increased promotion on the springtime favorite, d’Anjou pears.” 

There is a place for both bulk and bag promotions, she said.

“Last year, d’Anjou bags made up 24 percent of volume, and the success of packaged produce during the COVID-19 pandemic makes offering grab-and-go packs like Lil Snappers 3-pound fruit pouch bags or 5-pound 5-pound Rushing Rivers pears pouch bags a great solution,” Shales said in the release. 

Bags also fit the need a contactless solution for those who are choosing to purchase their groceries online, she said in the release.

“Bags are a great item for online home delivery and curbside pickup, however bulk is the mainstay of feature and liner ads, as well as in-store impulse purchases,” Shales said in the release. Both options play as key drivers when raising category numbers.” 

Retailers also can promote Stemilt’s Artisan Organics d’Anjou pears through both bulk and bag options between now and mid-April, according to the release.