Tesco is trialling an in-aisle scanner that can measure the ripeness of avocados.
The scanner – which is being trialled at Cheshunt Extra and Colchester Superstore in Essex, Stratford-upon-Avon Superstore in Warwickshire, Wokingham Superstore in Berkshire and Salisbury Extra in Wiltshire – uses infrared to “read exactly what the fruit looks like inside”.
“The scanner will enable shoppers to choose the avocado that is right for them and which therefore can help them plan their usage and desired shelf life, thereby cutting down on waste,” said Tesco avocado buyer Lisa Lawrence.
“It encourages shoppers to check ripeness without squeezing, helping protect avocados on shelf from damage, reducing waste, and keeping produce fresher in store,” she added.
Shoppers hold an avocado in front of the scanner and get one of two readings: “if the avocado is immediately ready for smashing or whether it is better used to be sliced in a salad”.
The reading is fed back to the shopper within just a few seconds.
“Smashed avocado on sourdough continues to be one of the trendiest snacks at the moment, with recipes ideas garnering millions of views on social media sites, so we think the scanner will be really popular with shoppers,” Lawrence added.
Tesco worked with its avocado supplier, Westfalia Fruit, based in Lincolnshire, on the project.
Tesco has worked with global avocado supplier and expert Westfalia Fruit, which is based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on the project.
Westfalia Fruit head of retail, Tom Kearns, said the scanner was “an exciting innovation that not only aligns with long-term sustainability goals but also enhances the shoppers’ experience – helping customers choose the perfect avocado ripeness for their needs, whether that’s ready to slice or smash.”
Westfalia has previously worked with Tesco on trials of lasered barcodes on avocados to remove the plastic label from loose lines, and rolling out cardboard and paper packaging across all of Tesco’s pre-packed avocado lines, which it says saves 20 million pieces of plastic a year.
The scanner is provided by a Dutch firm OneThird, which has supplied more than 200 of the machines to supermarkets in 15 countries, including Spain, Germany, Chile, Finland and the United Arab Emirates.
OneThird’s technology – which can be configured for growers and distributors as well as retailers – can be used on several fruits and vegetables, but the company is mainly focused on three crops: strawberries, blueberries, and avocados, given their high value and sensitivity to post-harvest loss.
No comments yet