ORANGE COUNTY, CA – The consumers asked, and Zespri answered. With a sweeter taste and longer shelf-life, Zespri is now bringing in its category-changing SunGold Kiwifruit from Italy to meet strong consumer demand and move towards a 12-month supply.
“We’ve been reconfiguring our business structure and building our team to help our customers grow their business, and develop supply options to enable us to become a truly 12-month brand in North America,” explained Ben Hughes, General Manager of the Americas, in a press release. “Our kiwifruit from Italy allows us to extend the season past November as we aim to get closer and closer to a 12-month supply program. The New Zealand Kiwifruit season begins in May and runs through November. We are now able to supply consumers with SunGold Kiwifruit well into winter.”
The Italian SunGold Kiwifruit will be sold in Zespri’s identifiable “Cut. Scoop. Enjoy!” packaging with weight options varying from clamshells, bags, loose bulk, and displays, and featuring clean, simple imagery and messaging that highlights Zespri Kiwifruit’s freshness and taste.
“The SunGold Kiwifruit from Italy will be seamless in its delivery to consumers,” said Hughes. “They just need to look for the Zespri brand and packaging of SunGold. Our Italian SunGold growers achieve the same exceptional taste standards as our New Zealand growers, which ensures great consistency and quality for our customers and consumers.”
With a core team in Italy that works directly with the growers including dedicated technical and grower services teams to oversee growing practices, Zespri is obtaining fruit from Italy in order to meet its growth strategy to grow the kiwifruit category in North America and achieve a year-round supply. Although SunGold leads the growth strategy, Zespri’s goal is to supply a full range of fresh kiwi products including Green, Organic Green, and Organic SunGold.
To support retailers, Zespri offers customized category programs and promotions, which can be developed around each retailer’s specific needs based on customers’ shopping patterns, through their regional market development managers. Zespri is also launching strong consumer and retailer campaigns to support the SunGold variety. Retailers are encouraged to meet with their regional market development managers and utilize available point-of-purchase displays and other merchandising material that feature the “Celebrate the SunGold” consumer graphics to help promote SunGold Kiwifruit.
With gold on the horizon for North American produce aisles, keep your eyes peeled for SunGold Kiwifruit as Zespri gets closer to a year-round supply.
For more produce industry news, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
