Collaboration with partners in the supply chain, keeping the customer as the ‘centre of the universe’ and committing to a planned program and strategy have been key to a successful mango season for grower and marketer Manbulloo. “last year the 2014/15 season was great. We’re very happy with the yield and the quality. We did some good collaborations with Coles and good collaboration with Chinese, Korean and Canadian customers.,” notes Marie Piccone, Managing Director of Manbulloo. There were also activities based around the lead up to Christmas and around the lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, which has helped strengthen ties with customers and export partners, according to her.
Although export was definitely on the agenda, and Manbulloo was involved in the consultation and development process around the mango industry’s expansion to the US market in early February this year, Ms Piccone says that managing existing commitments is paying off well for the business. “We strive to have a planned program with our customers and our longer term relationships are top priority. We’re committed to innovation and growth with our customers,” she says. This also includes ensuring that Manbulloo’s customers, including Coles, receive mangoes that are attractive, ready for sale and have been handled and ripened with care. “Being closer to our partners, that’s what has been a milestone with us this season. That doesn’t come easily.”
New packaging innovations, and working ‘really closely’ with customers means that Manbulloo has been innovating according to what customers want, including packaging, presentation and taste preferences. “We believe there’s opportunity for the mango industry as a whole and for us as a commercial company provided we continue to keep the customer at the centre of our strategies," says Ms Piccone.
The Mango season ended just before New Year for Manbulloo, a grower with a ‘very large’ plantation in the Northern Territory, and others in Northern Queensland. Harvest commenced in late September, and wrapped up in mid January having also sourced mangoes in Queensland from selected grower for export supply.
Weather was thankfully not too great an issue, although there are ‘always weather events’ to manage and sometimes to be concerned about, according to Ms Piccone.
For more information
Marie Piccone
Manbulloo Limited
Phone: +61738606990
E-mail: reception@mabulloo.com
Website: www.manbulloo.com