Repeating unique data from a column in Google Sheets

Question

I have a selection of values in Column A, some of which are repeated X (where X varies) times, like this:

Apples  
Apples  
Oranges  
Pears  
Pears
Bananas

I want to end up with a list in another column where each unique value is repeated N times (where in this case N is 3). So the above would look like this:

Apples
Apples
Apples
Oranges
Oranges
Oranges
Pears
Pears
Pears
Bananas
Bananas
Bananas

I have been trying to figure a way of combining =UNIQUE and =REPT to get me there but haven't yet found a way. What am I missing? Is there another way?

Can anyone help?

(Aside - I then want to have the results sorted alphabetically without manually having to Data > Sort the range).

Answer 1

A solution as a single formula:

=transpose(
   split(
     concatenate(
       arrayformula(
         split(
           rept(unique(A:A) & "\|", 3),
   "|"))), "\"))

Answer 2

You might create a pivot table (to extract uniques in alphabetical order) and then in Row1 of your sheet:

 =offset('Pivot Table 1'!A$1,int((row()-1)/3),0)  

copied down to suit.