High end British grocery retailer Waitrose is ready to reveal the 'perfect nectarine' after a three-year international search for the faultless stonefruit.

Fruit buyers for the U.K. supermarket embarked on a worldwide search that took them to South Africa, Italy and the U.S. in a bid to source a variety that would fit a specific sweet taste and aromatic flavor profile, according to a Waitrose release.

After three years in the making, the Regal'in nectarines are now on sale after French growers signed a deal to supply the retailer with 1,000 metric tons (MT).

The Regal'in nectarines have been developed in the heart of southern France close to Perpignan, by the Maillard family. The range includes white-  and yellow-fleshed nectarine and peach varieties, round and flat, especially selected for their good shape and sweet rather than acidic taste.

Waitrose buyer Amy Lance explains how the Regal'in is exactly what the supermarket has been searching for.

"For the last three years, we have been sourcing the finest stone fruit growing areas of the world," she said in a release.

"From the wine regions of South Africa to the home of Bolognese sauce in Bologna Italy, to more unexpected places such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and the slopes of Mount Etna, all to find the perfect fruit for our customers.

"The search finally led us to a small town outside Perpignan in the South of France where we ate the most amazing peaches and nectarines straight from the tree. Full of flavor and an intoxicating aroma, this was what we'd been searching for."

Exotic flavored grape launch

Meanwhile, Waitrose is also adding a new selection of exotic flavored grapes to its fresh fruit basket including cotton candy, strawberry and mango flavors.

The strawberry grape and Sweet Mayabelle grape are the first limited edition varieties to go on sale this week and will be followed by cotton candy flavor in mid-August and mango grape in September.

The new range is expected to meet the increasing demand for new and interesting fruit flavors and follows Waitrose launch of the Bubbleberry, a type of berry that tastes like bubblegum, earlier this year.

Sales of grapes in general are increasing by 17% year on year but the unique varieties are showing the largest increase, according to a Waitrose release.

Waitrose grape buyer Greg Sehringer says the limited edition grape range is aimed at adults and children looking for something different in their fruit.

"We've worked with our grape growers to create a whole host of new combinations. They look just like regular grapes but pack a surprising flavour punch," he said in a release.

www.freshfruitportal.com