Paolo Bruni Apo Conerpo CSO

Italian fresh produce giant Apo Conerpo has reported strong results for 2007, despite difficult trading conditions.

Despite less than perfect weather conditions characterised by a lack of rain and very high temperatures up until the end of April, as well as a less than positive economic climate, the Apo Conerpo Group marketed over 950,000 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables last year, achieving a turnover of more than €630m, some 15 per cent higher than in 2006.

The results were unveiled by group president Paolo Bruni and director Gabriele Chiesa. 'Following the downturn registered between 2000 and 2005 – when fresh produce sales in Italy slipped from 9.5m tonnes to 8m tonnes – and a rise of 3 per cent in 2006, fresh produce consumption among Italian families remained pretty much static in 2007, falling by just 0.2 per cent,' said Mr Bruni.

The Apo Conerpo Group marketed more than 430,000 tonnes of fruit and almost 520,000 tonnes of vegetables and potatoes during the course of the year, he added.

In terms of its domestic retail business, the company reported sales of €94.5m, up 4.18 per cent on the year, while export sales fell 1.98 per cent to €117m.

'Besides these good trading figures,' said Mr Bruni and Mr Chiesa, 'the company also worked to further improve the quality of its products by extending technical assistance in the field and increasing checks along the entire supply chain.'

Apo Conerpo currently comprises 46 member cooperatives, encompassing around 10,000 producers.