Walnut grower and processor
Walnuts Australia has opened up a new market in Japan, with the first ever
export of Australian walnut kernel arriving to the market in February 2016. The
company says that the recent Free Trade Agreement between the two countries,
and Japan’s appetite for high quality, premium products have played major roles
in opening up the export market.
“Japan is a large importer of
walnut kernel, one of the largest in the world,” Walnuts Australia Sales
Manager Nick Downes says. “Our new factory commissioned in 2014 has given us
the capability to process and pack a high quality, origin packed product, which
is enticing for consumers and retailers around the world.”
He says it’s been a fast and
efficient process from the initial presentation phase in 2015 to export and
marketing in Japan with partner AEON. The walnuts are sold in 500g retail
packs, with Walnuts Australia branding, with an initial shipment 6 tonnes –
12,000 packs.
Although the product has only
recently hit the shelves in Japan, initial feedback from the market has
exceeded their expectations.
“We’d sold almost 10% of the
product in the first three days it was in Japan – and that’s before the
Australia promotion had started. It was the single biggest sale among nuts
category for that week,” he says.
“Initially we were told it would
take quite a while to change origin preferences with Japanese consumers, so I
was really surprised at how quickly they moved through them without any
additional promotion.” Japan is known for having high expectations when it
comes to produce and related products – and important factor Walnuts Australia
has considered from the very start of their process exporting to Japan.
“Their high specifications and
expectations relate to colour, taste, freshness and overall quality, so we have
made sure we meet them throughout this process,” Mr Downes says. Walnuts
Australia currently has nearly 3000 hectares of walnut trees in the Riverina
region of New South Wales. A new orchard is also in development near Griffith,
New South Wales, which will be finished by the end of this year.
Mr Downes says that while yields
are down on last season, the quality is looking to be high once again.
“We’ve had a nice warm summer
perfect for growth and ripening of nuts; our irrigation and fertigation systems
have allowed for large nut size and overall good quality.”
Walnuts Australia currently
exports to Italy, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Spain among others. It also
sells product in the domestic Australian market.
For more information:
Nick Downes
Walnuts Australia
Tel: +61 448 232 239
Email:
nick.downes@walnutsaustralia.com.au
www.walnutsaustralia.com.au
Source: www.freshplaza.com
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét