Hamburg-based company Frucom, a major supplier of imported South American fruit to German retailers including Rewe, has filed for bankruptcy, according to reports in the German media.
The group specialised in imports of fresh fruit from South American countries including Chile, Brazil and Argentina.
Efforts are now underway to keep the company's business going, with the possibility of either a new company being set up to continue the group's operations or alternatively a plan of action being drawn up by creditors through the court system, administrator Tjark Thies told Fruchthandel Magazine.
Reports suggest a difficult apple season in Chile contributed to the company's problems. According to Chilean industry analyst Decofrut, Frucom specialised in Chilean apples, importing around 780,000 cartons of mainly Royal Gala each year.
