Apple marketer KIKU has confirmed the official formation of KIKU SA, a joint venture involving five of South Africa's leading apple exporters which is set to see them promoting and developing exports of KIKU-branded apples from next year.
The five companies involved – Capespan Exports, Colors Fruit, Dutoit Group, Fruitways and Tru-Cape Marketing – will work alongside KIKU partners elsewhere in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, ensuring that only apples which conform to the trademark’s specific internal and external quality standards will be packed and marketed.
According to KIKU general manager Jürgen Braun, all of the partners in the South African KIKU project will cooperate in the market, working together to guarantee year-round supply. “We’re really excited about our collaboration,” said Mr Braun.
The five partners have agreed to ensure that quality is maintained, service is of the highest order and that all promotions enhance grower value, and the initiative is also expected to have a positive effect on returns to growers.
According to Capespan Exports commercial manager Stephen Brink, using the KIKU trademark to distinguish a superior product is a secure way of achieving a premium market price, resulting in a higher net farm producer income.
The first plantings of KIKU-trademarked fruit in South Africa took place in 2005, and the first exports are due to take place in 2010.
Offering apples with a high level of firmness, juiciness and sweetness, KIKU apples are expected to stand out from the crowd with their distinctive striped, ruby-red colouring across a large part of the fruit.
