Multinational forms JV with Sam Agri and Dvori Or to supply locally-grown and imported avocados to Indian consumers
Westfalia has partnered with Sam Agri to form a new joint venture company supply Hass and other avocado varieties to Indian consumers.
West In Avo India will supply local markets, retailers and wholesale markets with locally produced avocados, as well as avocados from Westfalia’s global network of farms.
Sam Agri is a well-known agri-business Indian company with over 25+ years of experience in integrated operations involving growing, processing and marketing of fresh produce.
The new company has enlisted specialist Israeli avocado nursery Dvori Or to bring varieties and planting material suited to local growing conditions.
“We are global avocado experts in a very specialised industry that requires deep knowledge and experience. We are excited to bring to India our expertise in every part of the value chain from nurseries and growing techniques to producing the best quality product to put on the supermarket shelves,” said Zac Bard, executive global farming, growers and commercial nurseries at Westfalia.
Sam Agri’s managing director, GVK Naidu, commented: “The growing and marketing expertise of Westfalia coupled with the nursery expertise of Dvori Or will help realise our vision to make avocado available on every Indian table”.
David Levin, Sam Agri’s marketing director, added: “This partnership feels natural. With our combined experience, this collaboration will allow Westfalia to focus on both the local avocado industry and strategic imports that make the market in India so special, and we are looking forward to this journey together”.
Amos Or of Dvori Or said: “India has areas suitable for avocado production and being in the Northern Hemisphere, the production will be counter seasonal to African and other South American imports. We are excited to bring the right varieties and planting material to suit the local microclimates”.
During Indian’s off-season months, Westfalia will import avocados from its farms in Tanzania to maintain year-round availability for the developing market.
“We believe that the short transit time with a regular supply of good quality avocados creates the right conditions to see rapid growth in the Indian market and compliment the developing local production in India,” Bard said.
Westfalia said it aims to be a sustainability pioneer in India, bringing the same values and approach from its farms in Africa, Latin America and the rest of the world to the sub-continent.
The company is committed to protecting precious water resources, reducing waste and becoming ‘lifetime carbon neutral’ by 2049.
Alk Brand, group CEO of Westfalia said: “India has been chosen as a strategic investment opportunity for Westfalia Fruit and after picking the right strategic partners and doing thorough research in the market, we are ready to create a long-term sustainable growth story. We anticipate that India will become a very strategic part of the Westfalia growth path
