Jason Te Brake reports returning confidence in the marketplace, especially in China, and has his sights set on expansion at home and abroad
Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake has told the New Zealand Herald he believes the company has the capacity to export 220mn trays of kiwifruit from New Zealand, including 145mn trays of its SunGold variety, should such a volume of fruit be forthcoming in a future campaign.
“My view is we managed to get through 192mn [export] trays this year and we actually had a lot of head space available,” he told the newspaper.
Te Brake has begun his tenure at the company with a focus on removing cost and complexity – including an IT system revamp called Project Horizon – and meeting with international clients.
According to the NZ Herald report, recent meetings with Zespri’s two biggest Chinese customers were encouraging after Beijing embarked on a new economic stimulus project for the country.
The group is expected to decide next week whether to poll its member growers on a new plan that would expand its offshore production in Europe and Asia.
