Sun World International has licensed two of Chile’s leading table grape producer-exporters – Rio King and Rio Blanco – to grow and market its proprietary seedless grape varieties.
The two grape companies join existing Sun World Chile grape marketer-licensees: Subsole, Unifrutti, Dole, Compania Frutera Santa Maria, Gesex, Santa Elena and Exser.
“Rio Blanco and Rio King, two of Chile’s most formidable grape producer-exporters, add noteworthy supply and distribution capacity to our proprietary branded grape programme,” said Sun World’s executive vice president David Marguleas.
“As a result of their involvement – and the tremendous capabilities of our existing Chilean licensees – retailers and consumers around the world will have increased access to Sun World-branded grapes.”
Rio King, which is owned by Sergio and Carlos Barros, is a fully integrated export company with farming operations on 3,700ha in Chile and Peru, import offices in the US and China and a worldwide customer network. “We are committed to a sustainable fresh fruit business and cutting edge technologies for all our operations,” Rio King managing director Andres Perez said.
Family-owned company Rio Blanco grows, packs and markets fruit, primarily from its own farms. “Quality is a strategic pillar for the Rio Blanco development plan and this agreement with Sun World is a confirmation of our commitment to quality in world-class new varieties of grapes,” Rio Blanco managing director Pedro Medina noted.
