First road trip for new Italian export Alliance to Southeast Asia

In June 2018, RK Growers signed a joined venture agreement with two other Italian growers and exporters, Rivoira and VI.P Val Venosta, to supply the Asian market with premium Italian and European apples. 

The new alliance will create one of the largest apple supplier in the world, with a supply capability of over 400,000 Tonnes. The plan is to focus on supplying the Asian market with the popular sweet Ambrosia apple, along with a full range of high quality organic apples as well as other existing and new apple varieties starting in the 2018/19 season. 

The partners recently concluded a trip to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia to explore the market situation and spot further opportunities. 

Kevin Au Yeung of RKG Asia comments: "Together with our new alliance partner, the commercial director of VIP Val Venosta, Mr. Fabio Zanesco, we visited many importers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. This has helped the group gained positive local impressions and more importantly, an overview of each distinct market and their respective product requirements." 

"The Northern Hemisphere season for apple will start very soon. We believe Asia is an attractive market because there are interest in new and better tasting apple varieties that are not grown locally".

“Furthermore, this is simply the first step in our wide range of product offerings, we still have many new varieties in kiwi (Dori), citrus, grapes (Arra Grapes) and berries awaiting to enter the dynamic Asia Market.”