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Press Release

First month of new British apple and pear season and discounters set the pace

September saw good volumes of new season British apples available from British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) growers, but not all UK supermarkets were quick to stock their shelves.

Aldi and Lidl both hit the ground running with strong September performances for British apples sold by BAPL growers. One in four British apples sold in September were to Aldi (27.5%). Lidl also started very well, as they took 20.7% (1,401 tonnes) of all British apples in the month. This compares very favourably with their grocery market shares of 9.8% (Aldi) and 8.1% (Lidl).

“Aldi really was the standout performer.” Explained BAPL executive chair, Ali Capper. “The supermarket more than quadrupled their volume compared to September 2023 – from 405 tonnes in September last year to 1,862 tonnes in September 2024.”

Tesco had a surprisingly slow start to the new British apple season. Tesco was ranked fourth in the September 2024 league table, taking just 13.9% (938 tonnes) of British apples, well behind Aldi and Lidl, and just under half their grocery market share of 28%.

Sainsbury’s also had a slow start selling 14% (949 tonnes) of the new season crop, compared to their grocery market share of 15.2%. Asda is also worthy of a mention as they sold 7.9% (531 tonnes) of the September British apple volume, which is a huge improvement on their September 2023 volume of just 86 tonnes.

“It’s early days,” admitted Ali Capper, “but we know from our social media channels that shoppers get very frustrated when they are looking for new season British apples in the supermarkets and can’t find them. That’s why we really need all the supermarkets to be quick off the mark at the start of the new season.”

Lidl and Aldi also had very strong performance for British pear sales in September 2024. Lidl took 29.1% (239 tonnes) of all British pears sold to UK supermarkets by BAPL growers and Aldi took 25.7% (211 tonnes). However, both supermarkets were pipped to the British pear September top spot by Sainsbury’s. In September 2024, Sainsbury’s took almost a third (32.4%) of all British pears sold by BAPL growers.

Full details of BAPL member monthly sales can be viewed at: https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data.

 

 

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Press Release

Tesco recognised as British apple supermarket of the year 2024

Tesco recognised as BAPL Apple Retailer of the Year 2024

Lidl achieves best year-on-year performance

British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL), the UK top fruit grower association, is delighted to announce Tesco is the 2024 apple retailer of the year.

The award is based on BAPL member sales to British supermarkets from September 2023 to end of August 2024. As the last of the 2023 apple and pear crop has now been sold, BAPL can reveal the supermarket of the year.

In the year starting September 2023, Tesco sold 26,705 tonnes of British dessert apples, only just ahead of Aldi that sold 26,008 and had topped the chart last year.

Behind the two at the top came Sainsbury’s that sold 21,563 tonnes and Lidl that sold 18,096 tonnes.

In addition to naming the apple retailer of the year, BAPL is also recognising the retailer that achieved the best year-on-year performance. That award goes to Lidl that managed to increase the volume of its apple sales from 2022/23 to 2023/24 (from 17,560 tonnes to 18,096 tonnes).

Commenting on this achievement, Ali Capper, executive chair of BAPL, said: “Tesco came second last year, and we know they were motivated to go one better this year. We’re delighted they have achieved that. Lidl have also done really well to sell more British apples this year than they did last year – no small feat when you consider the slightly reduced volumes overall.”

Several supermarkets also over-indexed for British apples – sold more than you would expect given their grocery market share. The outstanding performers there were Aldi (sold 21% of all British apples compared to their grocery market share of 10%), Lidl, (sold 14.6% of all British apples compared to their grocery market share of 8.1%), and Sainsbury’s (sold 17.4% of all British apples compared to their grocery market share of 15.3%).

“This year’s crop is looking good and we’re hopeful that all UK supermarkets will work even harder this year to promote British apples and pears to their shoppers. Buying British over imported fruit saves on food miles, and we know consumers want British if at all possible.”

Full results for 2023 crop:

  Total tonnes Sept 2023 to Aug 2024 % of total British apple sales Grocery market share1
Tesco 26,705 21.6% 27.6%
Aldi 26,008 21.0% 10.0%
Sainsbury’s 21,563 17.4% 15.3%
Lidl 18,096 14.6% 8.1%
M&S 6,513 5.3% N/A
Waitrose 5,709 4.6% 4.5%
Asda 5,553 4.5% 12.6%
Morrisons 5,239 4.2% 8.6%
Co-op 4,487 3.6% 5.9%
Others 3,321 2.7% 5.0%
Iceland 608 0.5% 2.3%

BAPL continues to publish monthly UK apple sales data at: https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data.

[1] https://www.kantarworldpanel.com/en/grocery-market-share/great-britain/snapshot/04.08.24/

Categories
Press Release Health Health Research

Apples and pears in the top five of the superfood league table

New scientific research reveals that apples and pears are in the top five for nutritional quality. They truly are a superfood.

We all know that fruit and vegetables are good for us, but some pack a bigger nutritional punch than others.

The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked at people in three cohort studies in the US and conducted biomarker analysis on more than 41,000 participants.

Of the 52 fruit and vegetable items assessed by scientists, 19 were identified as high-metabolic quality, with apples and pears in the top five. To our mind, this really makes them a superfood.

The study found that the higher the intake of high-metabolic quality fruit and veg, like apples and pears, the lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

We hear a lot about the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, but this new study also highlights the importance of eating the right quality as well as quantity of fruit and vegetables. 

This research confirms what many have always known – an apple a day really does keep the doctor away.

The more high-quality fruit and vegetables – like apples and pears – we can eat, the lower our chances of getting a serious disease.

MORE ABOUT THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITIES OF APPLES AND PEARS

 
 

 

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Press Release

Audit challenges for UK apple and pear growers

Audit summary. British growers are at the top when it comes to world standards of apple and pear production. They are also one of the most audited in the world. BAPL continues to support those high standards while also ensuring that the audit burden is fairly applied. 

Here is a summary of BAPL audit-related activities in recent months: 

Since BAPL published its public response to SMETA above, we have also summarised the issues in a recent Fruit Grower article.

There are three key issues with the proposed SMETA 7.0 standard for UK apple and pear growers:

  • Overtime. In the existing standard (and in the new proposed standard), the overtime clause requires growers to pay overtime at a rate of 125% of normal pay. Today, growers continue to receive non-conformances despite having reached collective agreements with their workforce to pay overtime at a lower rate. This is contra to UK national law which does not require overtime to be paid at a premium.
  • Employer pays principle (EPP). In the new standard (from 10th September 2024), A new EPP (employer pays principle) would require growers to pay all recruitment costs. Sedex has defined recruitment costs to include travel and visa costs. This is contra to the ILO (International Labour Organisation) guidance and the requirements of the Seasonal Worker Scheme (run by Home Office and Defra). Neither the ILO nor the government-run seasonal worker scheme currently require these costs to be paid by the employer. Everyone acknowledges that, if they are audited, no growers will be able to say they have paid these recruitment costs in 2024 because the seasonal worker scheme does not currently require it.
  • Credible living wage. The new SMETA 7.0 standard requires growers to pay a “credible living wage”. This is despite there being no definition of what a credible living wage is. Furthermore, existing regulation (seasonal worker scheme) requires growers to pay a minimum of 32 hours per week at the national living wage as a minimum.

Read the Fruit Grower article (link to follow) for more on BAPL’s response to the proposed SMETA audit.

On behalf of growers, BAPL continues to challenge these changes. When changes do not follow either UK legislation or regulation, are un-auditable and unfair, we need to speak up. 

 

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Press Release

BAPL calls for proper consultation concerning proposed SMETA changes

BAPL STATEMENT ON PROPOSED SMETA CHANGES – 10 July 2024

BAPL has called on SEDEX to pause its introduction of changes to its SMETA 7.0 standard. BAPL says that the proposed changes cannot be implemented or audited correctly, and risk food inflation of around 4-5p or more per pack of apples.

BAPL says that the new “employer pays principle” and credible living wage standards are aspirational and contrary to current Home Office and Defra interpretations of ILO guidance and our national law. This new standard has the potential to cause chaos and stress in fresh produce if introduced without appropriate consultation across the whole supply chain. In particular, there are serious implications for UK food price inflation and security.

SEDEX has interpreted ILO guidelines to mean that employers must pay for the recruitment related travel and visas of workers they employ on their farms. This would not only apply to workers coming from overseas via the seasonal worker scheme, but also any UK-based workers as well. This is contrary to usual UK employment practice and raises serious practical concerns. For example, seasonal workers often work on several different farms – as the picking seasons progress. In that situation, who would pay the upfront visa and travel costs? It would be unfair for that to fall solely to the first farm employer. If the upfront costs are split between different employers, how is it to be administered and managed? And ultimately how will these costs be funded by the supply chain?

BAPL is very concerned that the proposed SMETA standard 7.0 has not been properly thought through. Specifically, the changes are being pushed through without waiting for the Defra-funded impact assessment report on the employer pays principle, which is being conducted by the government’s seasonal worker scheme task force. Before that proper impact assessment has been completed there is no place for this new SMETA standard.

As things stand, some UK apple and pear growers are looking into alternative ethical audits that enable them to meet important retail requirements. They may also consider refusing to comply with this part of the SMETA audit until the Defra impact assessment report has been published.

In short, fact-based common sense needs to prevail. At the very least, this SMETA standard should not be implemented until Defra has completed its full assessment of the employer pays principle. Growers have estimated that paying the full travel and visa costs for seasonal workers would be equivalent to a 4-5p price increase in the cost of a pack of apples. Given the fact that apple and pear growers margins are already stretched to breaking point, these additional costs will have to be covered by retailers.

BAPL is asking all retailers to align and agree:

  1. That UK fresh produce suppliers are not expected to respond to the employer pays and credible living wage sections of the proposed SMETA standard 7.0 audit.
  2. That no action from producers is required if a “collaborative action required” is assigned by an auditor.

Read more about the audit burden facing UK apple and pear growers.

Categories
Press Release Health Health Research

Apples are great for your gut

From stomach to colon – the whole gut health benefits of apples

A new scientific study has summarised the significant gut health benefits of apples to the whole of our digestive tract. Bringing together lots of published research, the study published in the journal, Molecules, is yet another great reason to eat an apple a day.

Here’s the summary of the benefits of apple polyphenols* on gut health:

Stomach benefits

  • Alleviates the changes caused by NSAIDs, like ibuprofen
  • Helpful in healing gastric ulcers

Small intestine benefits

  • Alleviates the changes caused by NSAIDs, like ibuprofen
  • Beneficial effects on hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose levels which over the long term can result in kidney and cardiovascular damage)
  • Strengthens the gut barrier

Colon benefits

  • Alleviates the changes caused by NSAIDs, like ibuprofen
  • Beneficial effects on ulcerative colitis by relieving mucosal damage and counteracting injury to the colon
  • Positive impact on gut microbiota
  • Suppressing cancer cells in colon cancer 

What’s also interesting in this new study is the fact that the polyphenols in the apples retain their active benefits even as travel through our bodies. That seems to be why they have a positive effect from the stomach all the way down.

So, grab your British apple superfood and treat your gut today.

Read more about the heart health and other benefits of apples. 

*Polyphenols are antioxidants found naturally in apples – especially the skin. They have been shown to have benefits beyond gut health, including on heart health. 

 

 

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Press Release

UPDATE: BAPL launches manifesto ahead of general election

MAY 2024 UPDATE

Following government announcements in May 2024, the BAPL manifesto has been updated. 

VIEW THE UPDATED BAPL MANIFESTO

In March 2024, British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL), the organisation representing commercial top fruit growers, published its first ever manifesto.

Designed to provide all political parties with clear guidance on how best to secure the future of the British apple and pear industry, the manifesto sets out ten clear actions.

“Any new British government has a great opportunity to turn around the current crisis facing UK apple and pear growers.” Explained Ali Capper, executive chair of BAPL. “We have set out clear steps that we believe are both necessary and practical to achieve that.

“We understand that there will be many competing priorities for any new government, but the actions in our manifesto have extremely far-reaching and positive impacts. Implementing these actions will help ensure domestic food security, support the rural economy, our environment and the health of the nation. Those ambitions should be firmly on the agenda of any government.”

The ten actions in the BAPL manifesto concern a range of issues from fair contracts with supermarkets to labour, environmental protection and innovation.

BAPL sent the manifesto directly to the leaders of all the main political parties as well as their key representatives for agriculture, farming, health, finance and labour.

“In addition to sending them our new manifesto, we will be offering face-to-face briefings with the political parties.” Explained Ali Capper. “We are very keen to work with anyone who is open to our ideas for a stronger and sustainable British apple and pear industry.”

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Press Release

British apple and pear supermarket performance, six months into the 2023 season

New six month sales data from BAPL

Six months since the start of the British apple and pear season (starting October 2023), British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) has analysed which supermarkets have surpassed last year’s performance and which are lagging behind.

Of the 10 supermarkets analysed, seven managed to increase the volume of British apples and pears bought from BAPL growers compared to the same period in 2022/23. The top performers were Sainsbury’s which bought 2,737 more tonnes of British apples and pears and Lidl which bought 2,597 more tonnes than the previous year.

VIEW THE DATA CHARTS

Tesco has fallen just slightly behind its 2022/23 performance – selling 714 tonnes fewer British apples and pears in the first six months of the season. However, it was hampered by a slow start in October and is now catching up with the other top performers.

Unfortunately, not all supermarkets have improved in terms of supporting British apples and pears and buying more this season compared to last. The biggest underperformer was Morrisons, selling 2,613 fewer tonnes between October and March 2023/24 compared to the same period in 2022/23.

“Things are getting very tight at the top of the league table this year.” Explained executive chair of BAPL, Ali Capper. “Aldi is currently beating Tesco, but only by 333 tonnes. Sainsbury’s and Lidl are both closing the gap on the top two. It’s going to be fascinating to see how the rest of the year turns out.

“We’re delighted that most supermarkets are buying more British apples and pears than they were this time last year. We know that’s what consumers want, and we welcome the recent moves by some supermarkets to make it easier for online shoppers to choose British. That’s another great step towards making buying British as easy as possible.”  

Every month, BAPL publishes supermarket sales data on its website to shine a light on which supermarkets are putting their buying power behind British. The monthly data tables can be viewed at the links below:

 https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data/

https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data-pears/

 

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Uncategorized Press Release Research

The trees are talking!

How new ‘listening’ technologies could help British growers produce even better apples

AI technologies could be coming to an orchard near you. Things are high tech now in some UK apple and pear orchards. The latest ideas involve ‘listening’ to the trees to find out exactly when they are starting to feel thirsty. 

British apple supplier and BAPL member, Adrian Scripps, has joined a trial to evaluate a new ‘listening’ technology. The sensors on the trees detect biosignals that give growers an early alert to potential stresses – like needing a drink!

The sensors are small, with two wires that go into the tree, usually into a branch. They detect micro-electric biosignals inside the tree and trigger irrigation the moment the tree needs it. The grower no longer has to guess, or wait for the tree to show signs of ‘thirst’ – such as leaves dropping or going yellow. 

The fact is that by the time the tree is showing visible signs of stress, the damage may have been done. So it’s better to be able to provide some water before that happens. 

We’re also very mindful of the need to conserve water as much as we can. And this technology can help growers do just that. While we might have the perfect maritime climate for growing delicious apples in the UK, rain is not always in plentiful supply. Water sustainability is very important. 

Ultimately this technology can also help growers conserve water and be more sustainable. Without this insight, growers might have to water the trees when they ‘think’ they might be thirsty and that could be a waste.

We’ll bring you updates as this trial progresses. In the meantime, you can read more in this Fruitnet article.

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Press Release

BAPL AGM – 17th April 2024

British Apples & Pears Limited held its annual AGM at NIAB‘s new Mumford Building in East Malling, Kent and online (via Zoom) on Wednesday, 17th April 2024. 

The Mumford Building was an excellent venue for a well-attended and informative session. 

BAPL was delighted to share the day with friends and colleagues from the National Fruit Show. The National Fruit Show held its AGM first, followed by a guest speaker and then BAPL ran its AGM. Many attendees joined for all three sessions. 

The guest speaker was renowned retail expert, Ged Futter. Ged spoke about the need for suppliers to consider saying ‘no’ to supermarkets, when terms do not support long term sustainability. He shared insights from his extensive experience working as a buyer for a major supermarket and this prompted many questions from the audience.

Ali Capper, BAPL executive chair, Jed Futter, Retail Minds and John Guests, The English Apple Man at the BAPL AGM

Above image (L to R): Ali Capper, executive chair of BAPL, Ged Futter, The Retail Mind, and John Guest, the English Apple Man.

In the BAPL AGM, Ali Capper provided an update on the extensive activities in the last financial year (August 2022 to July 2023). This included:

  • Extensive national media and trade media coverage on issues facing growers
  • Ministerial and political meetings to put forward issues of governmental concern.
  • Social media reach performance up 75% on 2022
  • Website visitors up 170% on 2022
  • Huge success with the #OrchardWatch social media posts sharing a fascinating look inside our growers’ orchards
  • The great start of season promotional work from several retailers to get behind British at this crucial time
  • The plans for 2024, which include working with retailers to ensure we see new season apples on TV and celebrated in store and online

If you missed the AGM, you can view the slides below:

BAPL AGM Chair’s slides

Ged Futter’s slides