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Tuesday / December 3. 2024

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HomePosts Tagged "Zac Bard"
Agribusiness, Company News, Fruits, Supply Chain, Trade, World

Considering India’s growing interest in avocados company plans to build strong partnerships within the market.

Westfalia Fruit, a leading multinational supplier of avocados and a range of fresh fruit, announced the arrival of its first-ever container of South African Hass avocados in India. This milestone marks a significant achievement in the company’s export efforts and the broader South African avocado industry.

This accomplishment comes after the finalisation of a long-awaited phytosanitary agreement between South Africa and India, the result of years of dedicated work to open this promising new market. The shipment, which arrived in time to meet the growing demand in India, is a testament to Westfalia’s commitment to expanding its global reach.

The geographical proximity of Africa to India provides South African avocados a competitive advantage over Latin American origins, which face longer transit times. India, a rapidly growing fruit market, offers excellent opportunities for South Africa, particularly during the April to October period.

Zac Bard, Business Development Executive at Westfalia Fruit, commented on this historic milestone, and said, “We are thrilled to celebrate the arrival of our first shipment of South African Hass avocados to the India market. This achievement highlights our dedication to expanding our global footprint and delivering top-quality produce to new markets. We look forward to establishing a strong presence in India and strengthening the ties between our two countries. Supplies of high-quality, large-sized Hass avocados from South Africa to India, will complement our supply abilities from other sourcing origins.”

South Africa is coming to the end of the 2024 supply season. “This shipment allows Westfalia Fruit to ensure that we land a quality product in the market, that complies with the requirements set out in the import protocol for India. We can then confidently scale up shipments in the 2025 season with a solid campaign that can support the growing consumption in India,” Bard added. East Africa, which has faced logistical challenges with shipping to Europe due to the Suez Canal closure, and Kenya and Tanzania are increasingly focusing their efforts on eastern markets which will ensure that there is sufficient supply from all African sources to meet growing demand in the Middle East, India and Far Eastern markets.

While India is currently a much smaller avocado market compared to Europe, it holds immense potential for growth. Westfalia Fruit remains committed to leveraging this opportunity to further solidify South Africa’s position in the global avocado market, ensuring a steady supply of premium-quality avocados to Indian consumers.

Ajay TG, General Manager at Westfalia Fruit India, commented: “This first shipment to India marks an exciting new chapter for Westfalia as we continue to broaden our global presence. India’s growing interest in avocados presents a significant opportunity, and we are eager to build strong partnerships within the market. With our focus on quality and sustainability, we look forward to playing a role in meeting the rising demand for avocados in India.”

Considering India’s growing interest in avocados company

Company News, Horticulture, India, Supply Chain

Westfalia ripe and ready-to-eat avocados will be available in a special punnet and consumers can be assured of consistent quality and ripeness

Westfalia Fruit India announced the launch of its first Avocado ripening facility in Mumbai, India. This will allow the company to supply avocados that are ready to eat to consumers in Mumbai and neighbouring areas.

The dedicated ripening chamber has been built in Navi Mumbai, near the APMC market and was launched at a ceremony. In addition to the Westfalia Fruit India leadership team, the launch ceremony was attended by leading fruit distributors, wholesalers, offline retailers, and e-commerce operators.

Westfalia Fruit India has established itself as the market leader and largest importer of avocados in India. Westfalia Fruit started its India journey last year and has already supplied over 1,000 MT of avocados to the Indian market in 2023. This year also marks the first year of commercial harvest of Indian-grown Hass avocados. Over the next few years, over 500 acres of our existing Hass avocado plantations in Southern India will come into production, enabling consistent year-round availability of avocados for consumers.

Speaking at the launch, Zac Bard, Director – Westfalia Fruit India, said that “Avocado ripeness has been a challenge for both retailers and consumers in India. Many consumers in India are not sure when is the perfect time to eat an avocado. Retailers also at times are unaware of how to differently handle Hass avocados at different stages of their ripeness. Our perfectly ripened avocados will look to address this gap in the market.”

“Westfalia ripe and ready-to-eat avocados will be available in a special punnet and consumers can be assured of consistent quality and ripeness. This ripening facility will be a milestone in India and will change the way avocados are marketed and consumed”, added Zac.

“Westfalia Fruit India is excellently placed to offer avocados consistently from multiple origins all year round mentioned,” GVK Naidu, Director – Westfalia Fruit India and MD of Sam Agri group, the Indian JV partners of Westfalia. “This ripening facility in Mumbai is just the start and in the coming months, we will have similar facilities in other major metros of the country,” added Naidu.

Westfalia ripe and ready-to-eat avocados will be