VALENCIA, CA - Valencia orange season has officially kicked off just in time for summer displays and back-to-school merchandising. Ensuring the variety lives up to its full potential, Sunkist Growers has developed new merchandising tips to help its retail partners sell larger value packs and create impactful seasonal displays. The California-grown orange variety is available now through October, uplifted by a strategic consumer sweepstakes.

“Valencia oranges are off to a good start this season, with volume up nearly 35 percent in June compared to the same time last year, according to Circana,” said Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing. “Valencia oranges are a summer favorite and perfect for juicing—this program will enhance their visibility and appeal in the marketplace.”

Citrus is an integral part of consumers’ shopping baskets throughout the summer, with Circana data revealing that consumers prefer to make in-store produce purchases, especially oranges. As the citrus maven shared in a release, building effective displays that put the Sunkist brand at the epicenter of the customer shopping journey is an effective solution for retailers to drive the category throughout the Valencia season.

A Sunkist-commissioned study revealed that over 15 percent of orange shoppers purchase the fruit on impulse. This further signifies the importance of establishing engaging and interactive displays in stores. This can be achieved with the help of Sunkist’s new ready-to-wrap merchandising offerings, which include bilingual Latin-inspired pallet bin wraps and a back-to-school-themed pallet bin wrap as consumers prepare for back-to-school shopping.

In addition to merchandising support, Sunkist is also unveiling an exciting back-to-school giveaway, offering families a chance to win a Sunkist-themed prize package as they prepare for the new school year.

“Back-to-school season is an important time for families, and we want to make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible,” added Howard. “This giveaway is a way to give back to our loyal customers and help them better prepare for a successful school year with new ways to instill healthy habits into their kids' lunchboxes.”

Sunkist’s Back-to-School Sweepstakes will run through September 14, allowing citrus fans to enter to win a variety of awesome back-to-school prizes. With back-to-school shopping ramping up this month, this provides a great opportunity for retailers to engage with shoppers throughout the summer. In addition, QR codes on the bin wrap designs lead consumers directly to the sweepstakes to learn more.

With these strategies in play, it’s sure to be a lucrative Valencia orange season!

Keep reading ANUK as we report on the latest category opportunities.