By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-01-31 12:56:26 | Updated at 2025-01-31 16:00:07
3 hours ago
Tesco has launched an innovative trial selling grapes based on their flavour and texture characteristics, moving beyond the traditional red, green and black categories.
The supermarket giant will test new labelling across 220 stores to better understand customer preferences.
The move mirrors how other fruits - like apples - are sold by names such as Gala and Braeburn, rather than just colour.
Tesco noted that wine is similarly marketed by grape variety, flavour and style rather than simply being labelled as red or white.
The new labelling introduces three distinct categories: tropical flavour, candy flavour and crunchiness
Tesco
The new labelling system introduces three distinct categories: tropical flavour, candy flavour and crunchiness.
These new options are being offered alongside Tesco's existing range of table grapes.
Early feedback from the trial has revealed clear preferences among British shoppers, with UK customers showing the strongest preference for grapes with a crunchy texture.
The second most popular characteristic was tropical flavour, while candy-flavoured grapes ranked third in consumer preference.
The supermarket aims to use these insights to potentially expand its grape range based on customer preferences.
Tesco fruit technical manager, James Cackett, explained that most people only recognise three grape varieties: red, green and black.
"And that was pretty much the case until the turn of the century when fruit breeders began looking at how to naturally improve flavour, crunchiness and sweetness, which is a wholly natural process to deliver better quality grapes all-round.
James highlighted how breeding technology advances have opened up new possibilities.
The trial aims to better gauge and understand shopper preferences
Tesco
"We are working with the world's foremost fruit breeding companies to supply the grapes that British shoppers want to consistently see on supermarket shelves," she said.
Rachel emphasised that the trial "reflects the strengths of our breeding programmes, the commitment of growers eager to explore new possibilities and Tescos openness to pioneering shopper-focused initiatives".
Thanks to technological advances, Botha said they can now meet consumer preferences consistently.
