Indian company Euro Fruits is now in its 21st year of grape exports. Every year it is different and challenging. Nitin Agrawal, Managing Director of Euro Fruits, said this year has been different in its own way, "The news of short supply in Europe of Chilean White Seedless grapes spread in India like wild fire. The Indian grape growers were the first and immediate beneficiary of this situation. The grape procurement price ex farm has reached new levels as never seen before." In India, unlike most of the other major grape exporting countries, the grapes are purchased on fixed price ex farm gate. This makes the exporter carry the entire market risk at all the times."
Euro Fruits packs grapes under various private labels as per programs from various European supermarket customers. This is in addition to the "Euro Fruits" generic brand and label.
The first grape containers are already in Europe with very good quality arrivals. Eric Bruckner from Timerfruit BV, a Dutch importer who imports Indian grapes exclusively from Euro Fruits, received the first shipments of grapes in mid February. "The quality of the grapes this season have been the best so far, Euro Fruits has always exported high quality grapes and this year the quality is even better than over the past years. Euro Fruits are one of the few Indian grape exporters to have state-of-the-art packhouses in Nasik & Sangli. They have a cold chain management system which is highly advanced and very well implemented, this is reflected in the shelf-life of the product."
Timerfruit has been working with Euro Fruits since their establishment 10 years ago and have a very unique relationship this the company. Bruckner and Agrawal have known each other for around 21 years, since Agrawal exported the first Indian grapes to Europe. Bruckner says Agrawal is, and always has been a pioneer in the export of Indian grapes.
Euro Fruits primarily exports White Seedless grapes but in the past few years a good potential has been seen for the Black Seedless variety. "Demand from the South East Asian market is also increasing. Now is the time to find a good and reliable partner in this new emerging Asian market who equally believes in long term relationships. The Indian local market is also getting very important and stronger especially with so many retail chains starting their operations in India. The growers simply have multiple options to sell their grapes," explains Agrawal. The 2013 grape season started a few weeks earlier than usual in the main grape growing region Nasik. Harvest and packing operations in other regions like Sangli and Latur were delayed by a few weeks. It is expected that the season will come to an end about 10-15 days earlier than usual.
Euro Fruits supplies premium quality grapes to few selected premium customers in Europe who have been very supportive and caring. The company continue to work with a selected group of highly progressive and high quality grape growers in India.
CSR activities remain a focus for Euro Fruits. Primary education and health care are the two main areas where Euro Fruits is associated with extending it helping hand to the needy.
For more information:
Nitin Agrawal
Euro Fruits
Tel: +91 22 2520 7838
Fax: +91 22 2520 5080
Mob: +91 98 200 33751
Email: nitin@eurofruits.com
www.eurofruits.com