Latest news with #Zespri
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Backing Horticulture: Record Returns & Red Tape Removed
Press Release – New Zealand Government The horticulture industry is going from strength to strength as export revenue is set to reach $8.0 billion this year, up 12 per cent on last year and kiwifruit is leading the way, Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg says. Minister of Agriculture Record global sales and strong grower returns from Zespri confirm that New Zealand's horticulture sector is back on track and growing fast—driven by hardworking growers and a Government focused on lifting productivity and cutting red tape. 'This week's announcement by Zespri of more than $5 billion in global sales for the 2024/25 season marks a 31 per cent increase on the previous year, with a record 220.9 million trays sold. Direct grower returns have topped $3 billion for the first time, highlighting both strong demand and growing confidence in the sector,' Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. 'The horticulture industry is going from strength to strength as export revenue is set to reach $8.0 billion this year, up 12 per cent on last year and kiwifruit is leading the way,' Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg says. 'This Government is backing growers with practical policy, better market access, and fewer bureaucratic obstacles to increase returns at the farm gate,' Mr McClay says. 'Last year, we moved at pace to bring the EU Free Trade Agreement into force many months ahead of schedule, saving New Zealand kiwifruit exporters $43 million in tariffs in the first year alone. Since then, kiwifruit exports have increased by 69 per cent, contributing a further $316 million.' Key actions the Government has taken to free up horticulture and drive farmgate returns include: Removing barriers to vegetable growing Improving the Freshwater Farm Plan system Passing an RMA amendment bill focused on primary sector needs Rebalancing the hierarchy of obligations for Te Mana o te Wai Introducing a replacement National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management Introducing pragmatic rules for on-farm water storage Investing more in catchment groups – empowering local decision-making Providing further funding for East Coast debris clean-up Ceasing the implementation of new Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) Increasing investment into Rural Support Trusts Committing over $400 million to accelerate emissions-reduction tools for farmers Expanding market access through new and existing trade agreements in the EU, UK, UAE, GCC and launching negotiations with India. Removing $733 million in non-tariff trade barriers 'We're focused on farmgate profitability and cutting the red tape that's been holding growers back,' Mr McClay says. 'Our primary sector is firing again, and this Government is going to keep backing it every step of the way,' Ms Grigg says.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Backing Horticulture: Record Returns & Red Tape Removed
Hon Todd McClay Minister of Agriculture Associate Minister of Agriculture Record global sales and strong grower returns from Zespri confirm that New Zealand's horticulture sector is back on track and growing fast—driven by hardworking growers and a Government focused on lifting productivity and cutting red tape. 'This week's announcement by Zespri of more than $5 billion in global sales for the 2024/25 season marks a 31 per cent increase on the previous year, with a record 220.9 million trays sold. Direct grower returns have topped $3 billion for the first time, highlighting both strong demand and growing confidence in the sector,' Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. 'The horticulture industry is going from strength to strength as export revenue is set to reach $8.0 billion this year, up 12 per cent on last year and kiwifruit is leading the way,' Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg says. 'This Government is backing growers with practical policy, better market access, and fewer bureaucratic obstacles to increase returns at the farm gate,' Mr McClay says. 'Last year, we moved at pace to bring the EU Free Trade Agreement into force many months ahead of schedule, saving New Zealand kiwifruit exporters $43 million in tariffs in the first year alone. Since then, kiwifruit exports have increased by 69 per cent, contributing a further $316 million.' Key actions the Government has taken to free up horticulture and drive farmgate returns include: Removing barriers to vegetable growing Improving the Freshwater Farm Plan system Passing an RMA amendment bill focused on primary sector needs Rebalancing the hierarchy of obligations for Te Mana o te Wai Introducing a replacement National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management Introducing pragmatic rules for on-farm water storage Investing more in catchment groups – empowering local decision-making Providing further funding for East Coast debris clean-up Ceasing the implementation of new Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) Increasing investment into Rural Support Trusts Committing over $400 million to accelerate emissions-reduction tools for farmers Expanding market access through new and existing trade agreements in the EU, UK, UAE, GCC and launching negotiations with India. Removing $733 million in non-tariff trade barriers 'We're focused on farmgate profitability and cutting the red tape that's been holding growers back,' Mr McClay says. 'Our primary sector is firing again, and this Government is going to keep backing it every step of the way,' Ms Grigg says.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Zealand Food Network Teams Up With Kiwifruit Industry To Rescue Kiwifruit To Tackle Food Insecurity
Press Release – New Zealand Food Network NZFN and its packhouse partners rescued and redistributed 160 tonnes of kiwifruit in 2024, and there continues to be growing demand for support to get healthy food into vulnerable New Zealand communities. New Zealand Food Network (NZFN), the country's largest food support charity and national food rescue, is working with the kiwifruit industry this season to help feed communities in need. NZFN and its packhouse partners rescued and redistributed 160 tonnes of kiwifruit in 2024, and there continues to be growing demand for support to get healthy food into vulnerable New Zealand communities. With the support of Zespri and in partnership with a nationwide network of packhouses, NZFN is leading the charge to increase access to nutritious kai and reduce food waste in the agriculture sector. NZFN Chief Executive, Gavin Findlay, says, 'Fresh produce must pass through many hoops before it ends up on the supermarket shelves, such as needing to last long export journeys, or meeting quality standards – meaning some of the annual harvest doesn't make the cut but is still good to eat. With the help of our network of incredible organisations, we're making sure that it's going towards nourishing Kiwis who need it most.' Kiwifruit is among the most nutrient-dense fruits available, with a single gold kiwifruit providing an entire day's worth of vitamin C. Since the rescue effort began in April, NZFN has already distributed kiwifruit to more than 80 organisations across the country. The popular red kiwifruit started arriving at NZFN at the beginning of March from Seeka to be redistributed to its 65 nationwide Food Hubs which support local organisations on the front lines. Around 150 bins of red kiwifruit were processed, and sent to Kiwis in need. Gold kiwifruit processing and distribution is now underway. Zespri, the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit and long-time partner of NZFN is supporting the rescue efforts. Zespri Head of Global Public Affairs Michael Fox says, 'Our focus is always on getting as much of our growers' fruit to market as possible but we're proud to work with NZFN to ensure that fresh and healthy kiwifruit which doesn't quite meet our export standards but is still delicious and safe to eat, reaches those in need and makes a positive impact on our communities.' This initiative comes as NZFN's most recent Food Security Snapshot revealed that over half a million people are now being supported by NZFN's Food Hubs every month, with about a third of monthly recipients never seeking food support before. Yet alongside this increase in demand, the volumes of surplus donations have remained flat, at best, forcing many Food Hubs to reduce the size of food parcels or even turn away new recipients. 'Food insecurity remains a critical issue for many New Zealanders,' says Findlay. 'With many of our Food Hubs struggling with stock levels, collaboration between the private and public sector is important to plug those gaps in supply and ensure that good, nutritious produce is going to communities in need rather than ending up in the bin.' If the New Zealand Food Network could be a solution for your business, please get in contact via About New Zealand Food Network New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) is Aotearoa's largest national food rescue charity and for-purpose food distributor. With distribution centres in Auckland and Christchurch, it accepts bulk surplus and donated food from food producers, growers and manufacturers and redistributes to more than 60 food hubs (regional food rescues, iwi, food banks and other charities) so that they may feed the communities they serve. Via these food hubs, NZFN ultimately serves a network of more than 2,000 frontline organisations across the country. NZFN's services reduce GHG emissions from landfill and ensure a positive social impact by getting food to where it's needed most. NZFN's operations are primarily funded by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to help address the issue of food insecurity nationwide. In addition to distributing donated food, NZFN purchases low-cost pantry staples and other household essentials with funds raised to help keep its Food Hubs well stocked. It also serves as procurement partner for registered Food Hubs to purchase food, and can be activated in the event of an emergency to procure goods for MSD and government providers.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
New Zealand Food Network Teams Up With Kiwifruit Industry To Rescue Kiwifruit To Tackle Food Insecurity
New Zealand Food Network (NZFN), the country's largest food support charity and national food rescue, is working with the kiwifruit industry this season to help feed communities in need. NZFN and its packhouse partners rescued and redistributed 160 tonnes of kiwifruit in 2024, and there continues to be growing demand for support to get healthy food into vulnerable New Zealand communities. With the support of Zespri and in partnership with a nationwide network of packhouses, NZFN is leading the charge to increase access to nutritious kai and reduce food waste in the agriculture sector. NZFN Chief Executive, Gavin Findlay, says, 'Fresh produce must pass through many hoops before it ends up on the supermarket shelves, such as needing to last long export journeys, or meeting quality standards – meaning some of the annual harvest doesn't make the cut but is still good to eat. With the help of our network of incredible organisations, we're making sure that it's going towards nourishing Kiwis who need it most.' Kiwifruit is among the most nutrient-dense fruits available, with a single gold kiwifruit providing an entire day's worth of vitamin C. Since the rescue effort began in April, NZFN has already distributed kiwifruit to more than 80 organisations across the country. The popular red kiwifruit started arriving at NZFN at the beginning of March from Seeka to be redistributed to its 65 nationwide Food Hubs which support local organisations on the front lines. Around 150 bins of red kiwifruit were processed, and sent to Kiwis in need. Gold kiwifruit processing and distribution is now underway. Zespri, the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit and long-time partner of NZFN is supporting the rescue efforts. Zespri Head of Global Public Affairs Michael Fox says, 'Our focus is always on getting as much of our growers' fruit to market as possible but we're proud to work with NZFN to ensure that fresh and healthy kiwifruit which doesn't quite meet our export standards but is still delicious and safe to eat, reaches those in need and makes a positive impact on our communities.' This initiative comes as NZFN's most recent Food Security Snapshot revealed that over half a million people are now being supported by NZFN's Food Hubs every month, with about a third of monthly recipients never seeking food support before. Yet alongside this increase in demand, the volumes of surplus donations have remained flat, at best, forcing many Food Hubs to reduce the size of food parcels or even turn away new recipients. 'Food insecurity remains a critical issue for many New Zealanders,' says Findlay. 'With many of our Food Hubs struggling with stock levels, collaboration between the private and public sector is important to plug those gaps in supply and ensure that good, nutritious produce is going to communities in need rather than ending up in the bin.' If the New Zealand Food Network could be a solution for your business, please get in contact via About New Zealand Food Network New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) is Aotearoa's largest national food rescue charity and for-purpose food distributor. With distribution centres in Auckland and Christchurch, it accepts bulk surplus and donated food from food producers, growers and manufacturers and redistributes to more than 60 food hubs (regional food rescues, iwi, food banks and other charities) so that they may feed the communities they serve. Via these food hubs, NZFN ultimately serves a network of more than 2,000 frontline organisations across the country. NZFN's services reduce GHG emissions from landfill and ensure a positive social impact by getting food to where it's needed most. NZFN's operations are primarily funded by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to help address the issue of food insecurity nationwide. In addition to distributing donated food, NZFN purchases low-cost pantry staples and other household essentials with funds raised to help keep its Food Hubs well stocked. It also serves as procurement partner for registered Food Hubs to purchase food, and can be activated in the event of an emergency to procure goods for MSD and government providers.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Small cities in focus for fresh fruit giants
As international fresh fruit giants Zespri and Driscoll's deepen their roots in China, both companies are shifting their growth strategies toward lower-tier cities, betting on rising health awareness, growing disposable incomes and evolving retail ecosystems to drive growth. To strengthen its presence, Driscoll's is partnering with popular streaming shows. The company has collaborated with the iQiyi reality series Let's Farm, which follows 10 young participants each season as they operate a real farm, sell products via livestreaming and interact with consumers. "The show's audience is mainly young people aged 18 to 25 in smaller cities, making it a perfect platform for us to build brand familiarity and trial," said Henry Yoon, marketing director of Driscoll's China. Driscoll's has seen even more pronounced growth in these markets. "In the past two years, our sales growth rate in lower-tier cities has outpaced that of first-tier cities," said Yoon. "People in top cities like Shanghai or Beijing face more pressure and are more price-sensitive. But in second and third-tier cities, malls and premium retailers like Hema are bustling. That's where we're placing our strategic bets." "Cities below the second-tier level, starting from third-tier cities, represent a vital frontier for our mid to high-end positioning," said Leo Li, e-commerce manager of Zespri, a New Zealand-based kiwi fruit brand. "The rise of livestreaming and the relatively untapped purchasing power in these cities are driving our decision to go deeper." Zespri's approach to market expansion is captured in its internal "widen and deepen" strategy, which focuses on increasing outlet numbers within existing cities while entering new urban centers. "If a city used to have 100 retail points for our kiwi fruit, we aim to increase that to 150 or more," Li said. "Though we imported 1.4 billion kiwi fruits into China last year — one for every citizen — the actual household penetration rate is still far lower. That's why penetration market remains a key growth driver for us." To ensure consistent quality and availability, Zespri has built a robust distribution and e-commerce ecosystem. It operates across 72 cities and 55,000 stores in China and plans to expand its supply to over 60 million standard boxes by 2028. The company is also collaborating with platforms like Tmall, JD, Douyin, Meituan and more to reach consumers through both traditional and interest-based e-commerce channels. "China's breadth and depth are extremely attractive. Even in mature markets like Shanghai, where our household penetration is about 45 percent, there's still room to grow," Li said. Other cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen of Guangdong province, hover around 30 percent, while Chengdu of Sichuan province and Chongqing stand at roughly 15 percent. Product innovation In the post-pandemic era, both brands are refining their health and nutrition messaging to reflect evolving consumer priorities. Zespri is emphasizing its fruit's high nutrient density, rich vitamin C, and low glycemic index. The brand is also doubling down on newer offerings like red kiwi fruit, rich in anthocyanins and folic acid, and designed to appeal to female consumers with specific nutritional needs. "Consumers are looking for more than just freshness — they want products that improve their overall diet," said Li. "We want Zespri to be seen not just as a fruit brand, but as a nutritional solution." Similarly, Driscoll's is focused on expanding the market for raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, in addition to its well-established blueberries. "Many Chinese consumers still associate Driscoll's solely with blueberries, but we are a multicategory brand," said Yoon. "For example, there's a 90 percent chance that if you've eaten a raspberry or blackberry in China, it was from us." The brand is addressing two barriers in smaller cities: unfamiliarity with certain berry types and lack of retail availability. "In many places, people either haven't tried these fruits or don't know where to buy them," Yoon said. "We aim to change that through targeted education and activation." To break into new markets and increase product adoption, Driscoll's is leveraging co-branding and lifestyle-driven marketing strategies. "In supermarkets, consumers may not proactively buy unfamiliar fruits," Yoon said. "That's why we've partnered with lifestyle brands like Blueglass to create new consumption contexts and recipes for products like raspberries and blackberries." These collaborations are designed to introduce fruit consumption in everyday settings — from breakfast bowls and yogurt parfaits to smoothie blends — especially in regions where fruit consumption tends to be more traditional or seasonal, said the company. Both brands highlight the role of China's improving agricultural logistics and supply chain infrastructure in enabling access to the broader market. "Blueberries, for instance, are a delicate fruit with short shelf life and strict cold chain requirements," said Yoon. "A decade ago, these were only available in first-tier cities. Now, thanks to better logistics and consumer education, even smaller towns have access to fresh blueberries." Driscoll's also found that the role it has played is helping domestic blueberry growers develop and expand the market. "We've not only educated consumers, but also supported supply chain development and varietal cultivation," said Yoon. The total blueberry output in China — the world's largest blueberry producer — reached about 780,000 metric tons in 2024, a 197 percent increase from 2020, driven by improved planting technology and rising market demand from Chinese consumers, said Wu Lin, chairman of the small fruit branch of the Chinese Society for Horticultural Science. Wu said that in 2024, China's blueberry cultivation area expanded to 1.44 million mu (95,381 hectares), up 44.38 percent from 2020. Zespri echoed the importance of partnerships in scaling. "Our eight-year collaboration with Benlai has allowed us to serve an increasing number of corporate clients," said Li. "These partnerships are key to our strategy of turning premium fresh produce into standardized offerings fit for modern retail." Local models Benlai Group, one of Zespri's key channel partners, underscores the strategic alignment between global brands and China's evolving fresh produce market. "Chinese consumers now assess value based on whether a product supports health and offers enhanced nutritional value," said Zhang Yujing, general manager of Benlai's marketing center. "That's a fundamental shift from just looking at price or freshness." Since its founding in 2012, Benlai has prioritized direct sourcing and origin-based supply, working closely with brand owners to bring transparency and quality assurance to consumers. Zhang believes global fresh food brands can serve as role models for China's still-developing agricultural branding landscape. "There's still a long journey ahead for branding in China's agricultural sector," Zhang said. "The focus now is on improving standardization, leveraging smart agriculture and better understanding consumer needs across the value chain." Both Driscoll's and Zespri are confident of their long-term prospects in China. Zespri aims to double its standard box sales volume in China by 2029, compared to 2024 levels. Meanwhile, Driscoll's plans to continue expanding berry category awareness and introducing improved fruit varieties tailored to Chinese tastes. "China remains one of our most important growth markets," said Yoon. "The speed of change here is unlike anywhere else. From infrastructure to digital platforms, everything is evolving — and we're evolving with it." The road to growth in China's fresh fruit market lies not only in offering premium products, but also in building cultural resonance, local partnerships and trust with health-conscious consumers at every level of the market, said Zhang of Benlai. - China Daily/ANN
