KiwiBrothersTM make their China debut
Zespri has unveiled the award-winning KiwiBrothersTM mascots in China for the first time to market its large kiwifruit crop.
A universal trend by consumers to live better and healthier lives is driving the demand for New Zealand kiwifruit.
Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson says kiwifruit fits perfectly into that scenario, causing strong demand in all its markets.
Mathieson says sales growth has been strong again this year: 150 million trays, up from about 120 million trays last year.
A lot of that is driven by the Sungold variety, and there is good growth also in Zespri green.
“Looking long term, we see that trend continuing with consumers wanting great products, great food items that are filled with nutrition,” Mathieson told Hort News.
“Kiwifruit is a real king in that space with all the vitamins and fibre and the nutritional elements it has versus other fruits. Based on that trend we see strong demand.”
He says their target group of consumers tend to be very health conscious, which is not region-specific but tends to be across the board. Zespri is getting good growth in both green and gold in Asia, with China going very well.
“It’s going well in Japan and they are once again our number-one market in Asia this year. We are also seeing great growth in Korea and have seen the duties start to gradually come down.
“We used to pay 45% duty on our exports to Korea, but with NZ’s free trade agreement with them the duties have started to come off and we have been able to offer our kiwifruit to consumers at a more attractive price and that has helped drive demand.
“At the same time, Taiwan is doing well and is now our number-one consumption market per capita in the world.”
European consumers have always been strong supporters of Zespri green, but Mathieson says consumers there are now starting to be attracted to Sungold. He believes this is because Sungold has a slightly sweeter taste and is easy to eat.
“France is going well and continues to be a high growth market for us. In the last couple of years, it has been a real performer in the European region. And we are also seeing good growth in all our major markets in Spain, the Benelux region, Germany and Italy.”
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…