Two new companies have joined the apple marketing club Kiku, the company in charge of promoting the trademark has confirmed.
South African exporter Core Fruit and Serbian group Delta Agrar become the 25th and 26th members of the Kiku family respectively, joining established names from across the global fruit industry including Capespan, Columbia Marketing International, Unifrutti and Enza.
'Core is a young and extremely motivated company,' stated Jürgen Braun, chief executive of South Tyrolean company Kiku, which owns and manages the global brand.
Core joins five existing Kiku partners in South Africa – Dutoit Group, Tru-Cape, Capespan, Colors and Fruitways – and is already planning plantings, shipping and promotional activities for next sales season.
Braun, who revealed Core was confident of good sales in South Africa itself as well as to customers in Europe and Asia, added: 'Core believes in the great eating quality of Kiku apples, in the differentiation to competitors with the Kiku premium brand, in the collaboration of all the global Kiku partners and the chances of shipping Kiku globally, especially to Asia and Europe.'
Craig Schaefer, market development and sustainable business manager at Core, stated: 'Core Fruit is most excited to be part of the Kiku family. The Kiku brand is recognised globally and it's great to be part of its success.
'The Core growers have planted to 100ha which will be targeted for Far East customers. The eating quality of the South African Kiku is exceptional and we're experiencing strong demand for the product. This is certainly something for the future.'
Meanwhile, Kiku has also expanded its production base in Europe by licensing Serbian group Delta Agrar. 'Serbia is a fantastic country with great opportunities,' said Braun.
Gojko Zagorac of Delta commented: 'Delta Agrar is a pioneer in modern apple production in Serbia. We started with apple production six years ago and now represent one of the biggest fruit producers in Serbia with apple orchards on a total area of 350ha all in one spot.'
Beside common apple varieties such as Gala, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Granny Smith, last year Delta Agrar began producing the club variety Modi.
'As a company who is also a leader in sales of fruit in Serbia with entering in to the business with Kiku apple, our sale portfolio will be wider and the Serbian market will be richer for one special new club variety of apple,' Zagorac added.
'Serbian consumers will have chance to taste fresh, sweet, tasty and above all highl-quality apples. With the attractive appearance and incredibly long shelf-life of Kiku, this will be a novelty in terms of the fruit offer on our domestic market.
'We believe that Serbian consumers and those in the wider region will recognise Kiku as a fresh apple which is attractive for consumption all year. We are proud to be a member of the Kiku family.'
