Chilean fruit giant Copefrut is reportedly anticipating a 15 per cent rise in its sales next season, hot on the heels of expectations that the company will turnover some US$200m during the 2011/12 campaign.
The Maule-based firm, which is run by the Soler, Moreno and Crispi families, expects much of its growth to come from Latin America, where sales are already tipped to increase by 25 per cent this season, according to a report by Diario Estrategia.
“Without a doubt, Latin America has shown a notable increase in our sendings, driven principally by the emerging markets of Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador – we have grown here by approximately 25 per cent, much more than our global average,” explained José Luis Soler, president of the export group.
Soler said the anticipated 15 per cent rise in sales next season (2012/13) is possible given the company’s sustained growth since the group turned over US$175m in 2010/11.
According to Soler, Copefrut is the leading Chilean exporter of kiwifruit and plums and one of the biggest in cherries as well as the second- or third-largest in apples.
Last season, Copefrut exported 11m cartons of fruit and going forward Soler predicts the company will see a production growth of between 7 per cent and 10 per cent annually, the report said.
In addition to Latin America, Soler explained that Asia is another “great strength” for Copefrut, while eastern Europe and the Middle East are also showing dynamism, and the US market is recovering from the economic crisis.
On average, Copefrut invests US$8m in the business every year to improve technological machinery and benefit the group’s 260 producers and their profitability, according to Diario Estrategia.
