Although fresh potato sales have struggled in the current fiscal year, the most recent quarter saw improved sales and volume moved through retail outlets.
The fourth-quarter 2018-19 fiscal year report from Potatoes USA, using IRI sales data, shows fresh potato sales at retail from April-June were $681.71 million, a 2.8% increase from the same period last year, and 930 million pounds of all varieties were sold in the same period, a 2.4% increase.
The price per-pound of most fresh varieties dropped, except for reds, with a 4.1% increase to 95 cents, and yellows, with a 7.2% increase to $1.09.
Major varieties, sales in dollars/percent change from fourth-quarter 2018, volumes/percent change and overall share of the fresh potato category were:
- Russets: $342.37 million/1% increase, 592.11 million pounds/1.5% increase, 63.7%;
- Reds: $143.7 million/3.8% decrease, 151.55 million pounds/7.5% decrease, 16.3%;
- Yellows: $109.85 million/14.7% increase, 100.74 million pounds/6.9% increase, 10.8%; and
- Whites: $42.31 million/8.9% increase, 56.24 million pounds/15.5% increase, 6%.
All pack sizes saw increases for dollar sales and volume sold, except for 10-pound bags and bulk, according to the report.
Five-pound bags lead the pack sizes, with 44% of fresh sales, followed by 10-pound bags with 19.4% and bulk at 12.1% of overall sales.
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