• Bananas should be displayed on padded shelves.
  
• Bananas should never be stacked on top of each other on the display. Bananas should be displayed in single rows to avoid bruising and reduce consumer handling.
  
• Make sure that the fruit with the heaviest yellow is on display first. Rotate merchandise on display.
  
• Use original cardboard cartons to transport fruit to the display area to minimize handling.

To keep your sales volume high, remember these tips:

• Cut prices for quick movement when bananas ripen beyond a stage 6 color (yellow with black sugar spots).
  
• Remember, bananas are impulse items, so keep displays attractive, full and colorful to catch consumers' attention.
  
• To complete your display, tie in pudding, vanilla wafers, banana glaze, chocolate toppings and tropical fruits around the bananas.

International Banana Association studies have shown optimal display space is 31 square feet. When expanded from 17 to 31 square feet, sales increased by 60 percent. The larger display creates a dramatic visual impact, attracting more consumers. The most effective displays are arranged in a stair-step fashion.

Secondary displays

Bring bananas closer to shoppers, in the cereal or dairy aisles or at the checkout stands with mobile banana fixtures. To help you increase your banana sales, Turbana can provide you with secondary displays:

• Can hold from two to six cartons of bananas.
  
• Occupy only a couple of square feet of floor space.
  
• Eye-pleasing display, extra strong and easily rolled on locking casters.
  
• Based on a study conducted by the International Banana Association, a secondary banana display will give you a boost of 12% to 18% in extra impulse purchases - an extra day of banana sales every week.
  For more information on secondary display, call the Turbana sales representative in your area.

Diversify your banana category

Display both stages 2 and 5 color fruit. This encourages consumers to eat the ripe bananas today and keep the green bananas for tomorrow.

To target ethnic markets, include plantains and exotic bananas such as babies, red bananas or manzanos. When displaying exotic bananas, advise consumers on when the fruit is ripe and ready to eat and give samples to familiarize them with the taste.