CONSUMER demand has outstripped supply for the world's first "leak-free" tomato since it was launched in Australia three months ago.

SP Exports managing director Andrew Philip said retailers were clamouring for the revolutionary new field-grown tomato, called Intense, because of its deep colour and higher lycopene levels.

Sales through Coles supermarkets topped $1.5 million in the first two months and a contract to supply Woolworths is expected to drive sales to $5 million by June.

Mr Philip said he would more than triple the area under production on his farms at Bundaberg, in Queensland, and trials were underway in northern Victoria, far north Queensland and Western Australia in a bid to ensure a year-round supply.

"We want to grow it in the right places at the right time of year," he said. "Even though Bundaberg's fairly good all year round, we're looking for the best locations."

Originally intended to meet the needs of restaurants and food processors, the Intense tomato was developed over 20 years by Italian tomato breeder Franco Vecchio and commercialised by Nunhems.

But the dense structure, which makes it easier to cut and allows it to hold its shape while losing less liquid, has endeared it to those who dislike soggy sandwiches, with shoppers across the nation buying up to three tonnes of the tomatoes each week.

A third-generation tomato grower, Mr Philip said he was constantly experimenting with new varieties - up to 500 different types from around the world each year.

"We're actively looking for different types of tomatoes that will be improvements on what we're currently growing," he said.

"I came across this variety in trials this time last year, looked at the characteristics and could see the real potential for it.

"We put a proposal to the company and gained the (Australian) growing and marketing rights.

"We grabbed it with both hands, but we took a leap of faith with it as well because it was so significantly different."

Mr Philip said gourmet, roma and truss tomatoes were very similar and had the same uses.

But Intense was significantly better for a number of different uses and people would see the difference once they got used to it, he said.

SP Exports is Australia's biggest producer of field-grown fresh tomatoes, supplying more than 30,000 tonnes of tomatoes in Australia and New Zealand each year.