Mr Avocado’s footprint continues to grow in China, with the partners in the joint venture – Mission Produce, Lantao and Pagoda – announcing an agreement to build a second ripening centre in the Asian nation.
Slated to open in September 2018, the new centre is being built in Southern China, complementing the group’s existing facility in Shanghai, which opened in 2017.
The site will supply fruit to over 2,750 Pagoda stores across China, along with additional retail outlets throughout the region.
“We are committed to working together to make the project a success,” explained Qidong Zhu, general manager for Pagoda.
“After opening the first ripening centre in Shanghai, we experienced strong demand from Southern China. This new centre will give us the opportunity to supply this region.'
The partners have signalled their intentions to open additional avocado ripening facilities across China over the next five years.
“We believe in this country and we think the opportunity is huge,” said Steve Barnard, president and CEO of Mission Produce.
