Mango sales have surged at Yorkshire-based Abu Bakr Supermarket’s five branches, with the retailer selling between 60 and 100 boxes a day at the peak of the season, as strong demand for authentic South Asian produce continues to drive fresh produce sales.
Some customers were buying two or three boxes at a time and returning every few days, with varieties such as Chaunsa proving particularly popular. The demand highlights the commercial opportunity for retailers serving Asian communities, where mangoes can be both a seasonal sales driver and a product with a strong cultural connection.
The demand also reflects the special place mangoes hold among South Asian consumers, particularly for varieties such as Chaunsa. But according to Abu Bakr Supermarket MD Hamza Hussain, the opportunity goes beyond one fruit or one season.
Speaking with Asian Trader, Hussain said, “Mangoes have always been a very popular fruit with our customers, and we continue to see strong demand, particularly during the main mango season.
“Customers are increasingly looking for good-quality, authentic mangoes at affordable prices, and we have worked hard to make sure we can offer them a good choice throughout the season.”
Mango has a particularly strong cultural connection across Asian communities. They are enjoyed across so many different communities, and everyone seems to have their own favourite variety or memories associated with them.
"Mangoes in particular have a strong emotional connection with many of our customers, " Hussain said.
"For a lot of people, they bring back memories of home, family and summer. Having a good selection of mangoes and other fresh fruit helps us attract customers, but equally importantly, it builds trust.
"When customers know they can come to Abu Bakr and find fresh, good-quality produce at a fair price, they are more likely to return and shop with us across the store."
Yorkshire supermarket Abu Bakr Supermarket
For Abu Bakr Supermarket, authenticity is the utmost priority, closely followe by affordability. Their response has been to develop a broad international supplier network."
Hussain explained, "For us, it comes down to having strong supplier relationships and a wide sourcing network.
"We have suppliers all around the world, which gives us access to different varieties and origins depending on the season. This allows us to source authentic, good-quality mangoes while also being competitive on price.
"Affordability is very important to us. We want our customers to be able to enjoy quality mangoes without feeling that they are paying a premium simply because the fruit is seasonal or imported.
"Having suppliers in different parts of the world also gives us greater flexibility when it comes to sourcing and availability."
Why fresh produce matters
While mangoes may create a particular buzz during the summer, Hussain sees fresh produce as a much broader driver for the business.
“Fresh produce is a very important part of any supermarket," he said.
"It is often one of the first things customers notice when they walk into a store, and the quality and presentation of the fresh food aisle can have a big impact on their perception of the business."
Yorkshire supermarket Abu Bakr Supermarket
That makes the produce section one of the most visible indicators of a retailer's standards.
"For Abu Bakr, our focus is ultimately on giving customers quality, authenticity and affordability. Because we have suppliers around the world, we are able to bring different varieties to our customers and make mangoes accessible to as many people as possible."
Looking ahead, Hussain said the supermarket chain will continue to explore ways of keeping the mango season engaging, including greater variety, competitive pricing, promotions and special offers.
“For us, it is about celebrating the fruit while making sure customers get the quality and value they expect from Abu Bakr,” he said.
"We will continue to look at ways of making the mango season exciting for our customers, whether through greater variety, competitive pricing, promotions and special offers.
"For us, it is about celebrating the fruit while making sure customers get the quality and value they expect from Abu Bakr."