Raspberries remain very expensive, with limited shelf availability but many brands per store due to the strong supply shortage. Blackberries and blueberries, thanks to higher volumes, are instead stabilizing prices: blackberries come from Mexico, while blueberries are sourced from Peru, Chile, Morocco, Spain, and Italy (given the limited quantities, all origins are used). Red currants are only from Chile and remain at high price levels.
Verona’s market appears highly segmented, with numerous brands present. For blueberries, 250g and 300g formats are available, but the 125g pack dominates due to high prices. Overall quality is good, except for raspberries which, due to their high cost, tend to stay longer on shelves.
These are the main findings from the Berry Observatory survey conducted today, March 26, 2026, which analyzed 16 stores from 16 retail chains belonging to 14 large-scale retail groups in Verona.
The assortments of the following retail chains were surveyed: Aldi, Conad, Esselunga, Eurospar, Eurospin, Famila, Galassia, Iper La Grande I, Lidl, Martinelli, MD, Migross, Pam, Prix, Rossetto, Spazio Conad.
Assortment
In the stores visited, the berry category featured from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 5 SKUs, with an average of 3.8 SKUs per store. The assortment shares in stores were as follows: raspberries 56%; blueberries 100%; blackberries 63%; red currants 25%; mixed packs 44%.
Range breadth
38% of stores offering berries had two or three SKUs, while 62% offered four or more SKUs.
Quality
Quality refers to product condition, assessed in terms of: absence of major defects; product that is sound but not in ideal condition (not fresh, tired, shriveled, dull, without bloom); presence of damaged fruit and leakage; presence of spoiled fruit and mold.
The groups with the best quality were Aldi, Conad, Despar Italia, Esselunga, Eurospin, Finiper, Gruppo Pam, Lidl, Prix.
Selling prices
Prices for berries are variable:
Raspberries: average €29.88/kg (min. €23.92/kg – max. €37.52/kg)
Blueberries: average €20.13/kg (min. €9.96/kg – max. €29.44/kg)
Blackberries: average €24.39/kg (min. €22.00/kg – max. €30.32/kg)
Red currants: average €28.54/kg (min. €22.32/kg – max. €31.92/kg)
Mixed packs: average €27.18/kg (min. €21.93/kg – max €33.27/kg)
In total, 73 price observations were recorded, with an overall average price of €23.49/kg.
Brands
Across the analyzed stores, berries from a total of 21 brands were present. Flli Orsero turned out to be the brand with the highest average prices in the category.
The brand with the lowest average prices for blueberries was Widmann, followed by Onubafruit.
Packaging
53% of blueberry SKUs were sold in 125g packs, accounting for about half of the assortment.
