BGP International, the Melbourne-based global fruit and vegetable marketer, has announced that it has forged a joint venture supply and marketing arrangement with two former senior managers of Elders International.
David Flack, who boasts 30 years' experience of fresh produce exports, and Kwok-Keung Mai, who has spent 20 years trading grains, meat and horticulture produce, will join BGP International on 1 September.
Managing a new Adelaide-based BGP subsidiary, their initial focus will be on exporting cherries, grapes, citrus and stonefruit.
BGP's existing import and global marketing programmes will also be enhanced by their experience, according to the company's managing director Neil Barker.
'Export is a tough and competitive business,' he said. 'To succeed you need strong and reliable supply programmes to keep your customers happy.'
The new appointments follow the recent move by Australian rural services group Elders to sell off its citrus and stonefruit packing operations and other non-core assets in the country.
Mr Barker believes that consolidation and rationalisation in the Australian fresh produce export sector are essential to its long-term survival in the global marketplace.
'The expansion by BGP International is clearly aimed at consolidating our position as a leading Australian exporter,' he told Fruitnet.com.
'Under this new joint venture model, the supply and sales contacts and arrangements will be brought to the business by David and KK, but there will be a lot of cross pollination with existing BGP suppliers and customers. If the model works and provides the benefits expected, I anticipate its implementation with other good operators.'
