South India's appetite for imported apples and citrus is strong and growing, says one local importer who moved from trial shipments last year to a more organized supply chain. Yousuf Ajmal, Executive Director at fresh produce importer Nettoor Agro, based in Kerala, says, "Last year, we began imports of Polish Gala apples on a trial basis; this season we visited farms in Poland ourselves, pre-booked containers and await arrivals of the Gala variety from late October into November."
Nettoor has expanded its sourcing to secure year-round varieties for its customers, mainly comprising retailers and HoReCa businesses. Ajmal explains, "This year we plan to directly import around 50 containers of Gala and Red Delicious apples from Poland, New Zealand, and Chile combined, with occasional containers coming in from Iran via other importers; our blueberries will be sourced from Peru, avocados from Tanzania, and oranges from Egypt."
© Nettoor Agro
According to Ajmal, "Gala apples from Poland have become the standout variety in Kerala after government restrictions reduced Chinese apple imports. Gala has developed a strong consumer base and retail demand." Noting equally positive feedback for imported oranges, Ajmal adds that Nettoor plans to expand its citrus sourcing in Egypt, particularly for the Valencia variety.
In terms of exploring new origins and varieties, Ajmal highlights, "Considerations for red globe grapes from China, dragon fruit from Vietnam, and apples from South Africa as future trials, though these remain in their exploratory stages."
For Nettoor Agro, cash flow and occasional quality shortfalls remain the main operational challenges, Ajmal explains. "A large part of our investment is tied up in advance payments, while occasionally, stocks that arrive may not be the best quality. This forms the bulk of our challenge to work with new partners, despite having insurance."
© Nettoor Agro
However, Ajmal highlights, Nettoor's competitive edge stems from its retail background and local network, which helps build importer trust and retail uptake. "We previously ran around 30 supermarkets in Kerala and continue to retain strong retail and HoReCa links across the state. Ties with the Supermarket Welfare Association of Kerala further help to build buyer confidence with new overseas exporters."
Looking ahead, Ajmal says he plans to expand supplies to supermarkets, Horeca clients, and other B2B buyers. "For now, rather than a national expansion plan, our focus remains on growth within Kerala, with some supplies to the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. We will work closely with partners such as NinjaCart to strengthen our distribution network and local presence," he concludes.
For more information:
Yousuf Ajmal
Nettoor Agro
Tel: +91 97 47 712 221
Email: y[email protected]
www.nettooragro.com
