The sale of French kiwis is underway at Primland, a producer and exporter of the Oscar kiwi. “We have weeks of sales that are quite busy, to France, but also to Europe or Asia,” explains Jean-Baptiste Pinel, director of the company. “We thank our clients for their support. There is competition from a number of countries, but thanks to our 30 years of background work, we manage to produce a good kiwi of a homogeneous quality, which is very much appreciated by our clients.”
Primland is at approximately the same sales level as last year. “At the beginning of the season, we were a little behind, because the market was still very crowded with the Zespri kiwi. This delayed the sales of the Oscar kiwi, but today we are selling quite well.”
Jean-Baptiste Pinel at Fruit Logistica
Oscar kiwi in ZPR
At Fruit Logistica last February, Primland emphasized the depth of the Oscar kiwi range (red label, Bio, PGI…). Lately, the company started marketing ZPR (zero pesticide residue) kiwis. According to Jean-Baptiste, it is starting off very well. “We have French clients who ask for this segmentation, because the label responds to the consumer’s demand for reassurance.” The ZPR kiwis are mainly sold in French supermarkets.
As for the Oscar Gold, volumes are slowly increasing. “They take time to produce, and rigor for the kiwi to be yellow and sweet, as the Oscar Gold should be. But when rigor and controls are required at all stages of production, from the orchards to the fruit stations, we obtain good results with satisfactory volumes, as well as happy customers.”
As usual, Primland should end its French kiwi sales in May. The company is currently preparing for the season of the Chilean kiwi; the campaign will start at the beginning of April.
For more information: 
Primland
+33 (0)5 58 90 09 95
olivier.pouilhes@primland.fr
www.primland.fr