Egyptian fruit producer Pico believes Asia will be the ‘next Europe’ and is full of potential for Egyptian fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly given the increasingly developed nature of the supply chain in Asian countries.
Speaking ahead of its appearance at upcoming trade fair Asia Fruit Logistica 2015, Cairo-based Pico – one of Egypt’s largest exporters of fresh produce – said that Asia was expected to become a hugely significant market for the company over the coming years.
With growing markets in Asia and the increasing prevalence of supermarkets compared with traditional roadside fruit vendors, Pico's Heike Hagenguth stressed that it was very important for the company to have a presence across Asian countries for all its products.
At Asia Fruit Logistica 2015, which takes place in Hong Kong from 2-4 September, Pico will highlight its standard range – including strawberries, table grapes and stonefruit (peaches, plums and nectarines) – as well as its line of citrus and exotics (pomegranates, mangos, avocados and lychees).
In particular in terms of grapes and stonefruit, Pico will showcase some of the newest additions to the Sun World varietal offer that are currently being grown in Egypt, including Sable, Midnight Beauty and Red Superior, as well as a trial plantation of Scarlotta. The group will also be highlighting a number of new Sun World stonefruit varieties.
Huge potential
Pico has attended every edition of Asia Fruit Logistica over the past five years, either as a visitor or an exhibitor, and plans to maintain its presence at the show with a booth inside the Egyptian pavilion.
Already an exporter of grapes, strawberries, stonefruit and pomegranates to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, among other destinations, Pico will use its presence at this year’s edition of Asia Fruit Logistica to both maintain existing commercial relationships and identify new opportunities.
“We are hoping to develop our exports with strategic partners and specifically the supermarkets who already have experience and market shares in the different South East Asian countries,” explained Hagenguth. “At the moment we are already supplying some importers in different countries but want to widen our network.”
Hagenguth said Pico would also look to discuss the latest grape and stonefruit varietal developments with its clients, as part of a concerted effort to take greater advantage of the abundant opportunities that exist in Asia for Egyptian-grown fruits and vegetables.
“We see Asia as the new Europe full of potential for Egyptian produce,” she added.
