Salvatore Rimmaudo, the sales manager at QuattroR in Vittoria, located in the province of Ragusa in Sicily, describes the current trends in the fruit and vegetable market, the challenges the company faces, and its future plans. The company grows and markets a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Currently, QuattroR specializes in a wide range of products, including tomatoes, friggitelli peppers, Victoria and Black Magic table grapes, mini watermelons, and netted melons. QuattroR works with large-scale retailers in Italy and abroad. "Most of our turnover comes from international trade, which we carry out through direct contact with foreign retailers on a large scale and with the support of major distributors operating outside Italy. We have a strong presence in Germany, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, and Hungary, but we aim to expand to other markets," Rimmaudo says.
© Maria Luigia Brusco | FreshPlaza.com
Angelo Testa (production management manager) and Salvatore Rimmaudo (sales manager) of QuattroR, a Sicily-based company specializing in the production and wholesale of top-quality fruits and vegetables, attending Macfrut 2025
Table grapes
"The season started about 15 days ago. The white Victoria and black Black Magic grapes began with a strong start, but now they are slowing down. This is partly because of the low sugar content, which is due to the lack of rainfall in the Vittoria area. The yield here is a bit low, while Black Magic is easier to find," he adds.
© QuattroR
"We can safely say that the market is stable, with prices ranging from 2.60 to 2.80 euros per kilogram at the production site and occasionally reaching 3 euros," explains Rimmaudo.
The grapes are sold under the 'Sugar Bear' brand, featuring a teddy bear with the Italian flag. It is the company's novelty of the year.
© QuattroR
Tomatoes
"They had a hard time for a few months because of competition from other countries, such as the Netherlands, Morocco, and Spain," Rimmaudo explains. A slight revival occurred the week before the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, held on 6 June, due to reduced supply and the end of Spanish production. However, a further decline is expected in the coming weeks. This is due to the start of production in the Fondi plain in the Lazio region. It is also due to the continued presence of Morocco and the Netherlands," he says. According to the sales manager, production costs might not be covered.
© QuattroR
Friggitello
"This product is available year-round thanks to our ongoing production in two locations: San Marzano sul Sarno, in the province of Salerno in the region of Campania, as well as Sicily. The campaign has been successful so far, with strong sales," Rimmaudo points out. "Despite the lower-than-usual quantities due to unfavorable temperatures, the price has helped cover production costs. A fairly positive summer campaign is expected, as no crops are being grown in other areas due to labor shortages and water problems. This leaves the expected yield in the fields at barely enough."
© QuattroR
Netted melon and mini watermelons Melons had a slow start in terms of marketing, but have recovered in recent weeks. Production is decreasing as the season comes to an end, but sales are going well this week.
Mini watermelons, however, have shown underwhelming performance. "This is due to unfavorable weather (rain) in the north and other countries, which affects demand. Watermelon is usually eaten in sunny weather," Rimmaudo emphasizes.
© QuattroR
Novelties and future plans In addition to the "Sugar Bear" brand, the company has launched a new app called "4R," available on the Google Play Store and App Store. The app allows private individuals and VAT holders to order goods and serves as a virtual "backyard," according to the sales manager.
Looking to the future, QuattroR has set ambitious long-term goals. By the end of 2026, the company plans to establish a cooperative bringing together the producers who supply it with goods. This would enable the cooperative to market the products under its own name. The next goal is to become a producers' organization by 2028. "Our goal is to supply large-scale retailers directly, uniting producers and promoting collaboration rather than having them work individually. It is a challenging path, but we are committed," Rimmaudo concludes.
© QuattroR
For more information:
Salvatore Rimmaudo
+39 327 108 4699
QuattroR
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.quattroringrossoortofrutta.it
