Berries in Padua: limited supply, rising prices and fewer brands in Italian large-scale retail

In Padua, the berry category remains broadly in line with last week: shelves continue to offer a limited assortment, with only a few brands available and a predominance of the most established labels. Availability is limited across the category, particularly for blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.

The lower supply is supporting a rapid increase in prices and, consequently, a reduction in the pack sizes available. However, some 250 g and 300 g blueberry packs are still available, along with formats of up to 500 g: in these cases, prices can reach as much as €16/kg, equivalent to €8 for a half-kilo pack, a level that could limit product turnover. Most of the batches observed were fresh.

These are some of the findings from the Berry Observatory, which today, 9 September 2026, stopped in Padua, where 21 retail outlets belonging to 20 banners and 14 large-scale retail groups were visited.

The banners surveyed were: Aldi, Alì, Alìper, Conad City, Conad Superstore, Coop, Eurospar, Eurospin, Famila, iN's, Iper Spar, Iperlando, Lidl, MD, Pam, Prix, Rossetto, Spak, Spazio Conad, Super A&O. At the time of the visit, berries were not available in the assortment at Coop.

Assortment: 3.9 references per store

The stores visited carried from a minimum of two to a maximum of seven references, with an average of 3.9 references.

Among the 21 stores visited where a berry assortment was available: 81% stocked raspberries; 90% stocked blueberries; 71% stocked blackberries; 29% stocked redcurrants, 24% stocked berry trio packs and 19% stocked mixed berry packs.

Range breadth: four or more references in 55% of stores

Let us now look at how these references are distributed. Among stores carrying berries, 10% had only one reference, 33% had two or three references, while the remaining 57% had four or more references on sale.

Quality

Quality refers to the condition and wholesomeness of the product, assessed by Observatory technicians according to the following criteria: absence of significant defects; sound product but in less-than-ideal condition (not fresh, tired-looking, shrivelled, dull or lacking bloom); presence of damaged fruit and juice leakage; presence of spoiled fruit and mould.

The groups recording the best quality were Aldi, Alì Supermercati, Conad, Despar Italia, F.lli Lando, Lidl, Prix, Selex.

Retail prices

Raspberries (19 observations): average €23.12/kg (min. €17.52/kg – max. €28.00/kg)
Blueberries (41 observations): average €15.22/kg (min. €9.96/kg – max. €23.92/kg)
Blackberries (15 observations): average €22.16/kg (min. €14.24/kg – max. €28.00/kg)
Redcurrants (6 observations): average €21.12/kg (min. €12.64/kg – max. €28.00/kg)
Berry trio packs (5 observations): average €25.25/kg (min. €23.27/kg – max. €26.60/kg)

Overall total (86 observations): average €19.17/kg (min. €9.96/kg – max. €28.00/kg).

Few brands

The stores visited carried berries from a total of 19 brands. The brand with the highest average prices was Calliari Carmelo. The brand with the lowest average blueberry prices was Alma, followed by Camposol.

Packaging

37% of the blueberry references surveyed were sold in packs with a net weight of 125 grams.