Cobana Fruchtring: the company behind Cobana and Ory

A large company, not very active in the media is a description very fitting of Cobana Fruchtring. Sales figures are hard to figure out. To give you an idea: in 2012, the German company is said to have realized a 2,242 million turnover. Headquarters in Hamburg focus on the import of sea vegetables. Cobana Fruchtring is probably best known for its house brands Cobana and Ory.

Origins
As far back as 1964, 48 German wholesalers (in a bid to create more independence from the large multinationals) decided to unite their banana purchases under a common name: Cobana. By the end of the 70s the work expanded with other overseas products under the name Fruchtring. The German company currently offers a wide range of overseas fruit. In 1998, Cobana Fruchtring expanded operations with delivery to the hospitality sector.

Throughout Germany, 22 independent wholesalers come under the Cobana Fruchtring name. Therefore, the company is represented in the major wholesale markets in Germany. Cobana Fruchtring has subsidiaries in Spain and France. French Fruitac and Cobana Fruchtring Spain Export focus on exports to Germany.

Own brands
Within the existing range, Cobana Fruchtring keeps two brands: Cobana and Ory. Cobana represents the banana brand of the company. Bananas are grown in Ecuador, Colombia and Central America and are directly imported by the German company. In Germany, Cobana Fruchtring has a nationwide network of ripeners. The Cobana banana is probably the most famous product of Cobana Fruchtring.

The brand Ory has different products, which include apples, pears, grapes and stonefruit from South Africa and Chile and red grapefruit from Florida. Characteristic of this label: strict standards, year-round availability and good prices.

Organic
The share of organic produce has grown in recent times. The decentralized structure of the company allows for much freedom in the purchase of organic products from the region. For overseas organic products like bananas or kiwi, purchasing is mostly delegated to the headquarters in Hamburg.