European demand for breadfruit has been so strong that Mauritian exporter Bella Fruitiva has decided to start its own production, according to managing director Vickram Meghu
Health-conscious consumers in Europe may be cutting down their intake of bread, but the most savvy are increasing their consumption of breadfruit, a large, nutritious fruit with the texture of freshly baked bread and a potato-like taste.
Bella Fruitiva, a branch of Bella Exofruita in Mauritius, is now the leading company in the country in exports of breadfruit to the European market. “Our volume has doubled from 2023 to 2024,” said managing director Vickram Meghu, “and my forecast for 2025 is that it will triple.”
With breadfruit now widely considered a superfood due to its multiple health benefits, and with the European market continuing to expand, Bella Fruitiva has decided to develop its own breadfruit orchards.
“Breadfruit is very popular in Europe, including in France, Germany and the UK,” said Meghu. “It has to be flown to maintain the highest quality. We’ve already had lots of orders from the UK, and demand is very high at the moment. We have recently introduced breadfruit to the Gulf markets, and the feedback has been very positive. Our new orchard is a response to this demand. We hope to have 200-250 tonnes of our own breadfruit ready for sale in a few years’ time.”
The breadfruit season in Mauritius lasts from October to the end of June. According to Meghu, no chemicals are applied to the product or the tree. “The tree just needs a good amount of water at the start, and it will start bearing fruit after four years,” he said. “Each breadfruit weighs 1.6kg-3kg, with each tree producing around 200-500 fruits per year.”
Bella Fruitiva also exports pineapples from Mauritius to Europe, as well as grapes from India. “Our Victoria pineapples are the queen of pineapples,” said Meghu. “Most of our customers have already confirmed their orders for 2025.”
In addition, the company imports premium fruit for the local Mauritian market, including various types of mangoes from India, Pakistan and Egypt, cherries from South Africa and Chile, figs from Turkey and a range of exotics.
“We supply only the best quality, specialising in airfreighted fruit with excellent taste,” said Meghu. “Our aim is to provide our customers with the freshest products, preferably picked within 24 hours.”
One of the main concerns for growers in Mauritius is the change that is being seen in the island’s climate, with rainfall becoming increasingly unpredictable.
“After three months of dry weather, we recently had a lot of rainfall,” said Meghu. “As a result, lychee production in Mauritius is very low this year. And the warmer winters are also affecting lots of different products on the island.”
