A new asparagus joint venture sees the creation of Australia’s leading year-round asparagus operation, according to an announcement made on Monday. The new company named T&G Vizzarri Farms Pty Ltd, is forecasting revenue of $40m and harvest of 5000 tonnes in the first full financial year, with volumes predicted to increase beyond 2015. The joint venture is between T&G (formerly Turners & Growers), through parent company BayWa, and Vizzarri Farms. T&G Vizzarri Farms will handle the marketing of asparagus in Australia and internationally, Vizzarri Farms Managing Director Joe Vizzarri told Fresh Plaza.
The partnership will enable the Vizzarri family to focus on its rapidly expanding farming operations, according to T&G General Manager for Sales and Marketing, Sarah McCormack. “This in turn will allow T&G to continue to grow the asparagus category globally and service our customers’ increasing requirements for fresh asparagus,” she said. That expansion will certainly include Asia, but the high AUD/JPY exchange rate will present ‘significant challenges’ when production begins to peak in September, according to Ms McCormack.
Delica, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NZ publicly listed company, T&G, founded its business in 1994 based on an asparagus partnership with Vizzarri. Asparagus has since grown into a key category for T&G, and the company currently exports asparagus year round from five different growing regions around the world. This latest move aligns with one of T&G’s core strategies around strengthening global partnerships.
The new deal represents an expansion as well as consolidation for T&G,as Ms McCormack confirmed that the marketing teams will be merged, however branding is to remain separate. “Both T&G and Vizzarri Farms possess strong and well-known brands in all markets, so we will continue to work with all of our partners to ensure it will be business as usual for this season and beyond,” she told Fresh Plaza.
The Australian asparagus is shaping up well for T&G Vizzarri farms, which confirmed that a good dose of rain in July has ensured that the asparagus plantings don’t start producing early, before markets are ready.
For more information:
To read the original press release announcement visit the T&G website: www.turnersandgrowers.com
Sarah McCormack
GM, Sales and Marketing
T&G
E-mail: info@tandg.global
Website: www.turnersandgrowers.com