Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- According to EastFruit, a melon from Uzbekistan has reappeared in supermarkets in Latvia, which is positioned as "Central Asian melon". The retail price for this melon is 2.49 euros per kg, which corresponds to approximately 31,300 Uzbek soums.

If earlier the main problem for supermarket chains with sales of Uzbek melon was its size too large for consumers, then this time we can note an improvement in this indicator. However, if you look at how the Uzbek melon looks against the background of competitors, then it is still larger than the rest. In addition, as we can see in the photo, the Uzbek melon is the only position that was cut into two parts in order to partially solve the problem of large size.

To the left of the Uzbek melon, next to it is a product that the supermarket called "White Melon". The country of origin of this melon is not specified. The price for it is 3.99 euros / kg, however, at that moment the store had a promotional price of 2.49 euros / kg. Accordingly, the price was the same as that of a melon from Uzbekistan. Most likely this melon is from Spain.

On the left in the photo above the "white melon" is a new product, the melon brand "LIMELON". This is a very interesting and trendy melon variety, which the manufacturer positions as a “refreshing melon”. It is claimed that this melon has a taste of lime - hence the name "Lime + melon", i.e. "lime + melon". The original price for "Limelon" is 3.99 euros/kg, but it is sold for 2.99 euros/kg. Accordingly, this position of the melon is more expensive than the melon from Uzbekistan.

Directly above the Uzbek products in the photo is cantaloupe melon (CANTALOUPE). It is one of the most popular and oldest melon varieties in the world. The price for this melon is 2.49 euro/kg – i.e. this melon costs the same per kilogram as the melon from Uzbekistan.

Nearby are HONEY DEW melons.

Since the quality of these melons leaves much to be desired, at the original price of 2.49 euros / kg, i.e. the same as for the melon from Uzbekistan, the supermarket is trying to sell it as soon as possible at a promotional price of 1.99 euros / kg.

Most likely, all other melons are also imported from Spain, which is the EU leader in the supply of gourds. However, it is difficult to say for sure.

Conclusions

We see progress in the size of the melon from Uzbekistan, but it is still the largest melon on the supermarket shelves. At the same time, the price of a melon turns out to be average - there are melons that are more expensive, but there are also cheaper ones.

Why is the large size of the Uzbek melon a big problem for both consumers and supermarkets in the EU?

Unlike Uzbekistan, the average family size in EU countries is smaller, so many will not be able to eat even half of such a melon.

A big melon is a big weight. Accordingly, it is not convenient for everyone to carry it home.

Large melon takes up more space in the bag, so given the desire to buy other products, some consumers will decide not to buy large melon for this reason.

Melons are priced per kg and are almost all the same, but a larger melon will cost more because it weighs more.

The need to cut a melon in two is an additional labor cost for a supermarket, which is quite expensive in the EU.

A cut melon spoils faster, so the losses in this position will be greater than in others.

Since large melon (for the reasons mentioned above) is sold more slowly than other positions, the cost of its sale for the supermarket is higher, and the margin is, on the contrary, lower.