Fyffes calls for greater collaboration as banana supply chain faces rising costs
The company says growers, producers, importers and retailers need to work together to develop a more economically sustainable future for the category
Print2 October 2026
Fyffes is calling for greater collaboration across the banana supply chain as rising production and distribution costs put increasing pressure on the category.
Ahead of Fruit Attraction 2026, the company said growers are facing higher costs for labour, fertilisers, crop protection, packaging, energy and transportation, while climate disruption, plant disease and increasingly complex supply chains are adding further pressure.
At the same time, Fyffes said retail prices for bananas have not kept pace with the true cost of producing and delivering the fruit.
Rising costs across the supply chain
“The banana industry is under very significant pressure,” Frank Burkhardt, chief commercial officer at Fyffes, said.
He added: “Costs have increased across virtually every part of the supply chain, from farm inputs and labour to logistics and transportation. Yet bananas continue to be sold at prices that often do not reflect the reality of what it costs to grow and deliver them responsibly.”
Burkhardt said the industry had absorbed rising costs for many years but argued that this was no longer sustainable.
Bananas support hundreds of thousands of jobs across Latin America and other producing regions, while remaining one of the world’s most popular fruits.
Fyffes said the long-term future of the category depends on creating an economically sustainable supply chain alongside continued environmental and social progress.
Sustainability comes at a cost
The company said the industry is being asked to invest in climate resilience, responsible farming practices, worker welfare, community development and supply chain improvements while continuing to manage rising costs.
“Sustainability has environmental, social and economic dimensions,” Burkhardt said.
He added: “The industry is rightly being asked to invest more in climate adaptation, responsible farming and the wellbeing of workers and communities. But those investments depend on economically viable farms and supply chains.”
Fyffes said that without sustainable returns for growers and producers, the long-term future of the banana category could be put at risk.
Call for pricing discussion
The company is calling for closer co-operation between growers, producers, importers and retailers, including greater discussion around banana pricing.
“This is a shared responsibility. Growers, producers, importers and retailers need to work together to develop a long-term sustainable plan for the category. That discussion must include banana pricing,” Burkhardt said.
Fyffes said a sustainable supply chain was needed to allow growers to continue investing in their farms, workers and communities while maintaining reliable access to bananas for consumers.
Fyffes outlines investment
Despite the pressures facing the category, Fyffes said it continues to invest in supply resilience and category development.
The company operates a sourcing strategy covering 10 origins worldwide, supported by an integrated logistics network and strategic partnerships intended to reduce exposure to localised disruption and support continuity of supply.
Fyffes is also investing in sustainability initiatives, including an ambition announced recently to source 30% of its produce from regenerative agriculture systems by 2035.
The company said such investment was important to building a more resilient tropical fruit sector, but that continued progress would depend on the economic sustainability of the supply chain.
Fyffes will use Fruit Attraction to discuss the challenges facing the banana and pineapple sectors with customers and industry partners.
“Bananas have been available and affordable for so long that it is easy to underestimate the investment, expertise and complexity required to bring them from farms to supermarket shelves,” Burkhardt said.
Visitors to the Fyffes stand, booth 10 D 18, will also be able to learn more about its sourcing capabilities, sustainability initiatives, category development programmes and upcoming Fyffes and Trudi’s consumer brand activations.
Read more: Fyffes strengthens Irish consumer appeal with 88% brand awareness
© 2026, ShelfLife by Patryk Goron
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