Avozilla to invade Britain: Super-size avocados make their way to UK

Tesco salads buyer Emma Bonny holding the rare 'Avozilla' avocado (Tesco/PA)

Avocado lovers can look forward to the arrival of an enormous new variety, five times bigger than the standard size, when it hits supermarket shelves tomorrow.

The rare “Avozilla” – thought to be the world’s largest avocado – comes from just four trees grown by one of the world’s biggest suppliers of avocados in South Africa. But British fans of the fruit will be able to enjoy it as it goes on sale at supermarket giant Tesco this weekend.

The fruit, priced at £3 each, is double the length and five times the weight of the standard variety – on average it is seven-and-a-half inches long and weighs nearly 3lb. Tesco salad buyer Emma Bonny said: “The Avozilla has a fantastic taste with a rich, juicy, buttery texture, and creamy flavour. The ripe fruit is an attractive, vivid green colour – different from the darker-coloured smaller variety.”

Avocados have grown from a niche food to an everyday shopping basket favourite, she said, adding: “Avocados are one of our fastest-growing areas in produce, with a staggering 30 per cent growth so far this year.”

PA