MEXICO - “Mexico continues to grow as an important and consistent source of fresh produce. A significant area of that growth is in the avocado category,” Antonio Villaseñor, CEO of Aztecavo, tells me. Based in Michoacán and Jalisco, Mexico, Aztecavo is being primed for growth with expansion plans to prepare for the next 10 years.
“We have seen a 30% increase in avocado volumes over the 2013-2014 season with hopes that we will continue to grow our presence in the market,” Antonio notes. Demand continues to play a huge role in the growth of the avocado category as new markets create new opportunities for avocado suppliers.
For Aztecavo, the expansion in export markets has been growing at a tremendous rate over the past years, with shipments travelling to the U.S., China, Japan and Canada.
“Europe is also a growing market for us, especially in France,” he says. “Also, Argentina and Chile are looking to import more avocados from Mexico. It’s an exciting time.”
So what is in play for the company? As Aztecavo looks to evolve, Antonio and his team are establishing plans for new facility in Michoacán that will double their avocado packing capacity and help them answer the growing demand for consistent supplies of quality avocados.
“Consumption is going to keep growing, and we want to be prepared to provide for that demand,” Antonio says. The new facility is slated to open during 2016 and will market a milestone in Aztecavo’s business model.
As the company continues to move forward, Antonio knows the importance of remembering its roots. The beginnings of Aztecavo started with Antonio’s father, Jose Antonio Villaseñor, who began establishing himself as an avocado grower in 1979. He began exporting to Europe in 1984 and made his mark as an avocado pioneer. In 1988, Jose started to export avocados to Japan through different California companies and in 1995 he founded his company Vifrut, where he welcomed his sons Antonio and Gabriel and established a family business. In 2005, Aztecavo was founded through a joint venture between Vifrut and Agricom.
Stay tuned as we follow Antonio’s growing avocado operations in Mexico.
