Right now, it is the peak season for American cherries. The total production of northwest American cherries in 2017 will be around 227.000 tons, or almost 23 million boxes. China's import takes up around 10% of the total production, making it the largest foreign market for these cherries. They have become so successful because of the good relationship between the American Northwest Cherry Association and the farmers, and supported by Shanghai Grandfruit Import & Export, the first importer of northwest American and Californian cherries to China.
Importer: introducing more excellent fruit in China
"Grandfruit is the first importer of both northwest American and Californian cherries to China. We now import over 40 containers of American cherries by sea to China every year. While the fruit import industry is developing, our company is also developing and expanding," states Mr. Li Gang, CEO of Shanghai Grandfruit Import & Export.
Shanghai Grandfruit Import & Export was founded in 2003. In 2013, it entered the Shanghai Huizhan Fruit and Vegetable Market. Before that, Grandfruit worked on the Shanghai Longwulu Market. They have already 15 years of experience in fresh fruit import. "Every year, we import over 1000 containers of fresh fruit from all over the world, such as cherries, grapes and avocadoes from South America, and oranges, kiwis, and pit fruits, such as pomegranates from America, South Africa, Australia and Europe. We have been growing 30% every year."
"The mission of an importer is to find excellent fruit worldwide, and bring high quality fruit to China, to give the Chinese consumer the best taste. However, in the past few years, because of the development of the Chinese economy, Chinese consumers have more purchasing power, so the demand for high quality imported fruit has become higher. Therefore, online merchants, fruit chain stores and supermarkets are all introducing more imported fruit. Retailers are now having more and more diversified demands for norms, packaging and brands. Therefore, the past few years, we have gradually been developing from a simple fruit importer to a service provider for the fruit producers."
Service provider for the fruit producers: developing and spreading high quality fruit in China
"Being a service provider means that we not only import fresh fruit to china, but, more importantly, also are a bridge between suppliers and the Chinese market. We work together with suppliers to expand the Chinese market. While increasing export, in order to build a brand presence for the fruit of the suppliers on the Chinese market, and connect them with the demand of the Chinese customers, we offer differentiated products, that satisfy the differing demands of the consumers."
"Grandfruit has been working in the fruit import industry for 15 years, with expertise and efficiency as its norm. To understand the industry, we established our headquarters on the Shanghai Huizhan Fruit and Vegetable Market. Simultaneously, Grandfruit has sales channels at the Jiangnan Market in Guangzhou, Xinfadi Market in Beijing, and markets in Hefei, Wuhan, Fuzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Changsha and Nanchang. Our customers are many second class distributors, e-commerce platforms, stores, the food industry and micro businesses. "
"Apart from these channels, Grandfruit not only has its own online sales channels, but also has many stores in Fujian, Anwei, Shanghai and Jiangsu. Thanks to its expert marketing team and good promotion, it can bring its imported fruit directly to the high-end consumer, and get immediate feedback. Moreover, Grandfruit has its own refrigerated storage, where it can provide specialized and strict storage for its products," states Mr. Li, CEO.
"As a direct importer, we can timely get information on the foreign production and Chinese sales. Our purchasers control the import costs, product quality and quantity, making us the best intermediary and bridge for foreign suppliers and Chinese sellers. We also do our best to support the long-term development of foreign fruit on the Chinese market, and their brand management."
Grandfruit is looking forward to seeing you at AFL
From 6 until 8 September, Asia Fruit Logistica will be held in Hong Kong. "You can find us at stand M01A in exhibition hall 3. We are excited to meet many like-minded partners, so we can expand the Chinese market together."
For more information, please contact:
Shanghai Grandfruit Import & Export
Tel: (+86) 021-64341508
Author: Yang Shuang