Zespri US sampling

US consumers sample Zespri SunGold in retail promotions this season

Zespri’s work to redevelop a position for its kiwifruit in the US was recognised at the AmCham-DHL Awards on Thursday night (3 August).

The single-desk marketer was presented with the Supreme Award, as well as Exporter of the Year to the USA (over NZ$10m), at the awards ceremony in Auckland.

The AmCham judges took into account that Zespri’s sales in North America are set to nearly double over the next two years to hit more than NZ$100m in 2018/19, with SunGold accounting for nearly three-quarters of revenue.

Zespri chief operating officer Simon Limmer highlighted the significant investment the company was making to grow kiwifruit sales across the US.

“On behalf of our colleagues and partners in the States, we’re thrilled that the hard work that’s gone in to relaunch Zespri Kiwifruit across the US has been recognised like this,” Limmer explained.

“These awards are particularly special to us as they comes just days after we officially opened our office in California to service the Americas region, with around 10 people working from the new site.”