Mangoes are increasingly sourced from India at this time of the year. Although the export share for the European market has so far been low, these fruits are also cultivated in market-relevant quantities in neighboring Pakistan.
Swiss import company Swipko based in Sankt Gallen, has now set itself the task to offer the products from the Southeast Asian country to local wholesalers. The first shipments will arrive in Switzerland somewhere in the next few days, says CEO Abdul Waheed Khan with some pride.
Air freight mangoes from Pakistan are now available in retail stores in all major cities in German-speaking Switzerland (including St. Gallen, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel and Winterthur).
The native Pakistani has often tried to find tasty mangoes similar to the varieties from his homeland, but without success. "Most of the mangos I have tried so far, do not taste good. So finally I came up with the idea to import mangoes myself and to offer them here. It took about 4-5 months to prepare and set up a supplier base, and now I am ready to actually import the fruit in time for the start of the season."
Marketing and target group
Under the brand name 'Mangology', the domestic wholesale and retail customers are offered several varieties (including Sindhri and Dasehri). The fruits are subjected to a hot water treatment before marketing, which should benefit the taste and the quality of the fruit. "We only sell air freighted mangoes and we hold all aspects of cultivation and marketing in our own hands. The mangos are offered from now until September, most probably. The mangos are sold primarily in 1kg and 7kg packages. Prices will be adjusted according to acceptance and market development."
After the great investment in marketing -the brand new company homepage and Facebook page will be activated as we speak- the retailer also offers his products beyond the German-Swiss border. "Our target group consists not only of Swiss wholesale customers, but also of interested parties in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria who want to put exotic fruits in their product range. That is why we found a reliable forwarding partner, so that we can deliver the goods in a flexible way"
Good conditions
Regardless of the sales market, Waheed Khan expects good results. "The campaign in North America is running out, and supplies from other sources are now becoming scarcer. That's an advantage for us."
For more information:
SWIPKO Import/Export
Leuenbergerstrasse 10
9000 Sankt Gallen, Schweiz
T: +41 78 938 99 44
M: +41 71 232 2742
mangology@mail.ch
www.mangology.ch