Packages and Displays for Apples and Oranges of Premium 



Quality and Size 



Differences of approximately 23 percent in average weekly sales were 

 observed between some of the test methods for premium quality and size of 

 apples and oranges (table l). But these differences were not statistically 

 significant at any probability level that would be acceptable for making manage- 

 ment decisions. That is, if repeated tests were conducted, it could be expect- 

 ed that each method would be first in sales about an equal number of times. 

 Furthermore, the data show that trays, sleevewrapped or overwrapped, are rela- 

 tively as efficient in producing sales when displayed alone as when displayed 

 in combination with bulk. These interrelationships indicate the likelihood 

 that there would be no difference in sales effectiveness among the four types 

 of packages tested whether they were displayed with or without bulk fruit. 



Table 1. — Average weekly sales per store of premium -size apples and California 

 oranges for selected types of package materials and types of displays in 

 six supermarkets, Minneapolis -St. Paul, Minn., November-December 1958 



Type of display and package : 



Apples 



: Oranges 



100 percent packaged displays: : 



Number of fruit 



1,936 

 1,588 



1,958 

 1,732 

 1,960 

 1,81* 



Number of fruit 



364 



372 

 377 

 356 



391 



Combination package -bulk displays: 



Open trays (fruit loose in trays).... 





Because the difference in sales among the methods tested did not favor 

 any single method, cost and quality maintenance should be the primary consid- 

 erations in evaluating the relative merits of each package and display tested. 



The open-tray method was not further evaluated because it is more of a 

 display technique than a method of wrapping. In a sense, the wrapping function 

 is shifted from the backroom to the checkout counter where the merchandise in 

 the trays is dumped into kraft bags. Although the open-tray package utilizes 

 the merchandise, it does not protect the fruit, and indirectly it encourages 

 customers to handle the produce to obtain the most desirable package. 



Of the three principal methods of packaging oranges and apples, the 6- 

 pack in a poly bag cost the least in labor and materials. Direct costs for 

 labor and materials were 3.4 cents for poly bags, compared to 3*6 cents for 

 the cello sleevewrapped package, the next lowest cost package (appendix, 

 table 8). 



- 9 - 



