Mission Produce and Lantao:

Teaming up to introduce Mexican avocados to Chinese consumers

Lantao received the first ocean container of Mission Mexican Avocados which arrived this week into Shanghai, China. The Shanghai market has handled avocado shipments before, but this will be the first time that the fruit will be distributed across China to various so-called second tier cities. Lantao has market branches in China’s “big-three” Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and also the inner cities of Zhengzhou, Shenyang and Harbin.

According to the USDA Foreign Ag Service, the growth rate of these secondary markets is surpassing the “big-three” urban markets. The populations of Zhengzhou, Shenyang and Harbin are all over 8 million people and growing, which would make them among the largest cities in the United States.

Ron Araiza, Director of Sales for Mission Produce says, “We are very excited about the potential for avocados in China. Our strategic alliance with Lantao gives us a strong partner in the market who understands avocados and our business model. We believe this market is staged for growth, and we’re excited to be leading the way in this expansion.”

John Wang, CEO of Lantao, expressed the strategy will be slow, but steady growth in the second-tier markets. “The new marketing approach through the inner cities will increase consumer recognition of avocados and lead to more Chinese people trying the fruit for the first time. Wang said. “Our goal is to slowly increase consumption through education and trials until there is greater acceptance with the Chinese consumer. As the leader in avocado marketing, Mission is the ideal partner to work with to achieve this goal together.”

Chinese consumers have a good deal to learn about avocados. They need to learn to ripen them, the best time to consume them, how to open or peel them, and finally how to eat them. Informal taste tests conducted by Lantao’s team show promise for the fruit, especially when served with spicy flavours as is the case with guacamole.

Araiza, and Export Sales Representative, Thomas Padilla, have scheduled a trip to China in December to monitor arrivals, and gather additional information on the region’s market potential for avocados. According to Padilla, “We believe that along with Lantao we can expand distribution and spark additional avocado consumption in China.”

For more information:
Ron Araiza
Mission Produce, Inc.
Tel: +1 805 981-3655
Email: raraiza@missionpro.com
or
Jim Provost
Lantao
Tel: +1 610-869-4664
Email: jim@iLoveProduce.com

Publication date: Wed 6 Nov 2013