Company has set itself the goal of doubling its Candine exports to Asia this season
Blue Whale, the world leader in apple production, has set itself the ambitious target of doubling exports of Candine apples to Asia in the 2023/24 season.
The French company, the world’s biggest apple producer, has been exporting apples to Asia for more than 30 years. Today, the market accounts for 15 per cent of its total shipment volume.
The growth seen in recent years is being driven by one of its star varieties: Candine. Sales increased significantly last season, with a total of 1,000 tonnes being exported to Asian markets. For the new season beginning now, the company is aiming to double this figure.
“Candine has been highly successful among Asian consumers ever since it was launched three years ago, and the expectations for the future are extremely positive. And not only with Candine,” says sales director Marc Peyres. “On the one hand, we expect an increase in production in the main varieties sold in Asian and, on the other hand, we antiicipate very strong demand in all markets.”
Blue Whale supplies a dozen varieties from its catalogue to all the Asian markets currently open to French apples, including China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Vietnam, which plays a significant role in terms of the penetration and development of new varieties.
The importance of the Asian market led the company to open its own office in Singapore last year. “Our commitment is to be closer to our customers. So, we now have team on the ground which has proven to give us a great advantage. It allows us to offer quality support at points of sale where we arrange sampling sessions to get a better feel for our consumer profile,” Peyres said.
Peyres travelled to Hong Kong this week with the Blue Whale team in Asia, Julien Baunmman and Benoit Barache, to exhibit at Asia Fruit Logistica. This is the eighth time that the multinational has taken part in the fair. According to the company the event is a “key meeting place” where it can update its Asian partners on all the season’s new developments and specifically detail their plans for this season.
The event also coincides with the Royal Gala harvest and the start of the French apple season. The first Blue Whale shipment of Royal Gala to Asia for the 2023/24 season is due to arrive in October.
