“This year, we’re seeing a fluent transition from the European Kanzi® season to the Kanzi® season from the Southern Hemisphere. The quality of the European Kanzi® apples is as good today as it was at the start of the season. In a number of European countries, the first Kanzis® are arriving on the market. The first volumes will start arriving in the remaining countries in the coming period as well,” says Bert Blokzijl, CEO of GKE. Kanzi® had a good European season, despite a full European apple market. “it wasn’t just the large European harvest of last season that was challenging, apple consumption left much to be desired at the start of the season as well. However, Kanzi® once again managed to grow, and distribution within and outside of Europe increased.”
Bert also looks back on a good season regarding quality. “In Europe, we’ve seen good pack-outs, and storability has also been good so far. The good cooperation between partners definitely contributed to success. Volumes that were less available for others were exchanged to serve the customer and the market as well as possible. This year’s Kanzi® quality can be said to be very good. Each year, we manage to improve this thanks to the mutual efforts with growers and partners. This is good for both customer, consumer and grower.”
Club varieties
“Club varieties can definitely offer benefits on a market that has a lot of supply regarding free varieties. However, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the majority of the market share of apple consumption doesn’t concern club varieties. In order to manage and support a club variety properly, we think it’s essential to have a certain volume base, and experience in the field of managing a club variety is very important as well. We have that with Kanzi®, and that gives us a good basis for the future,” the CEO of GKE says.
“Europe isn’t the only destination where the Kanzi® apples from the Southern Hemisphere are beloved, the US, Canada and a number of destinations in the Middle and Far East enjoy Kanzi® as well. Local markets in the Southern Hemisphere, however, are managing to develop well: both the African continent and South America are rising, but that’s necessary to continue meeting demand as well,” Bert continues. “Kanzi® also has a good distribution in Europe, and Germany continues to be one of the largest sales markets, just like the Netherlands. We’re very satisfied with the development of Kanzi® in Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK. The Baltic countries and Eastern Europe also continue to develop as markets.”
For more information:
Bert Blokzijl
GKE NV
Kernielerweg 59
B-3840 Borgloon, Belgium
Tel: +32(0)12 339 910
bert.blokzijl@gkefruit.com
www.Kanziapple.com