Banana prices set to rise

The Dublin-based company blamed the relative strength of the US dollar, higher fruit costs and a further 20 per cent hike in fuel prices for the “necessary” increases in selling prices in its key markets.

The warning came as Fyffes announced a 30 per cent jump in profits to 22.4m euros (£17.7m) in the six months to June 30, driven by higher sales volumes of pineapples and bananas.

And with trading conditions in its key continental Europe markets holding firm, it has increased its target for full-year earnings by at least three million euros (£2.4m). Half-year revenues rose by a fifth to £550.1m euros (£436m) today.

It said: “The group continues to pursue necessary increases in selling prices in all markets to offset the impact of adverse exchange rate movements and the higher cost of fuel and fruit.”

The firm began trading in the 1880s when the first commercial delivery of bananas from the Canary Islands arrived in London for E.W. Fyffe Son & Co.

The world’s oldest fruit brand came into being in 1929 with the famous blue label and its bananas are sourced in the Tropics from countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia.