UK faces missing out on NZ fruit

UK retailers must act or face missing out on New Zealand apples as the sterling to NZ dollar exchange rate makes imports from the southern hemisphere increasingly expensive.

“UK retailers have to have a serious think about how they want to do business in the future,” said Peter Beaven CEO of industry body Pipfruit New Zealand.

“They need to be prepared to set prices much further in advance - it is the only way that growers are going to get a fair return. The way the supply chain operates at the moment is not going to be sustainable in the long term. The retailers have to act or they will wake up in 10 years time with no New Zealand fruit on their shelves.”