Waitrose stocked up on loose veg

Monday 23 December 2019

Waitrose has stocked up on loose vegetables ahead of Christmas to try to cater for environmentally-savvy shoppers.

The retailer has increased orders of loose vegetables by 75% this year compared to last following "significant sales growth as sales of their packaged equivalents have decreased".

Over the last ten months sales of loose broccoli are up 8% and sales of loose parsnips have risen by 6%, when a year ago they were in decline.  

Loose carrots and loose red potatoes sales are up by 21% and 23% respectively in the last two months alone and sales of loose sprouts are outperforming their packaged version by 5%. 

Waitrose & Partners' fresh produce buyer, Paul Bidwell, said: “For the last 20 years the convenience of packaged produce has seen it outsell loose, but as consumers have become increasingly environmentally conscious and wanting to buy only what they need, we could be returning to how people used to shop with loose produce making a big comeback.

"We know we have a lot of work still to do to encourage customers to buy more loose fruit and vegetables, but there are signs we are seeing a shift in customer behaviour and we want to build on that momentum.” 

Pictured top: A Waitrose file image of its loose fruit and veg.