Asia Fruit Logistica 2026 exhibitor preview: EMEA

This article is part of Asiafruit Magazine’s Asia Fruit Logistica exhibitor preview series, spotlighting some of the key companies to see at Asia’s most important fruit and vegetable event. You can view all of the previews by region here as they are published.

RK Growers

Piedmont-based RK Growers heads back to Hong Kong this September following a significant management reshuffle, as it looks to expand its international business further.

The group, which supplies a broad range of premium fruits and vegetables to customers around the world, has promoted Giacomo Nocentino to the role of sales director, with Daniela Ballatore as deputy sales director.

According to partners and board members Paolo Carissimo and Carlo Lingua, the move was aimed at placing people who have been an integral part of RK’s success in recent years at the centre of its future growth.“RK is growing with extraordinary strength and speed,” they comment. “We have built a solid model, founded on varietal innovation, quality, and top-level human skills. Today, we are entering a new development cycle, where each employee will have greater responsibility, more trust, and more space to contribute to the company’s global growth. It’s time to invest in our most valuable capital: our people.”

Unitec

Leading technology provider Unitec says its official partnership with Asia Fruit Logistica at this year’s show reflects a deep commitment to driving efficiency, sustainability, and quality in the fresh produce industry across Asia and beyond.

The partnership will come to the fore within the event’s FreshTech zone, a new platform designed to put technology firmly in the spotlight. This will feature a dedicated stage and exhibition area where technology providers and industry leaders can share insights, solutions, and real-world applications shaping the future of the industry.

“We support international leaders not only with advanced technology, but with professionals on the ground who listen daily to the evolving needs of growers and distributors,” says Angelo Benedetti, president of Unitec. “This combination of technical excellence and local proximity generates tangible value across the supply chain.”

Naturitalia

“As far as the Asian market is concerned, the most significant development for us is Vietnam’s opening to Italian kiwifruit exports,” says Augusto Renella, who until mid-July was export coordinator and marketing R&D manager at Italian cooperative Naturitalia.

The company, which returns to Asia Fruit Logistica as part of CSO Italy’s country pavilion, has exported Melinda-branded apples to Vietnam in the past few years. As a result, Renella confirms, it has gained a good understanding of the country’s operators and market. That expertise will now be applied to kiwifruit, he says.

“Vietnam is a development target for us for the 2026/27 kiwifruit export season. We’ll be offering Jingold kiwifruit in Vietnam and other Asian markets, including yellow-, green-, and red-fleshed varieties.”

Apofruit

Italian fresh produce cooperative Apofruit arrives at the event with renewed leadership and strong momentum across its winter portfolio.

Mirco Zanotti was recently confirmed as the group’s president for 2026–28, and the cooperative has committed to investing fruther in innovation, efficiency, and grower returns.

Apofruit recently paid out €80.5mn (US$929.6mn) to members for its 2025 winter campaign, up 9.3 per cent year on year. Kiwifruit is now its largest product category, supported by expanding production, specialist packing facilities, and growing volumes of premium varieties including Dulcis.

Jingold

Specialist kiwifruit supplier Jingold says it sees its greatest opportunities for growth in South Africa and Chile, where it plans to source a larger volume of the fruit in future years.

In South Africa, the recent expansion of new orchards continues, supported by what are described as favourable environmental conditions. And in Chile, Jingold has reinforced its procurement activities through new investments.

“Our goal is to build an increasingly stable and predictable supply of high-quality kiwifruit for international markets year-round,” explains sales manager Moreno Armuzzi.

 

 

 

Rijk Zwaan

Fresh produce breeding specialist Rijk Zwaan is embracing the theme of ‘where care turns clients into partners’ at Asia Fruit Logistica, as it looks to demonstrate how close collaboration, local expertise and innovation help businesses build resilient, market-driven supply chains and create value throughout the fresh produce chain.

“We see every day how important continuity is for our partners,” says Natalie Nguyen, client specialist Asia at Rijk Zwaan. “By combining innovative genetics with a strong global supply network, we help them build more resilient supply chains. This enables them to diversify sourcing, reduce risks and respond confidently to changing market conditions.”

In Hong Kong, visitors can discover solutions that help create more predictable production and supply.

The group offers varieties with strong resistance in crops such as pepper, lettuce and cucumber, helping deliver reliable yields, consistent quality and greater predictability. Rijk Zwaan will showcase its wide variety of consumer-driven concepts such as sweet pointed pepper Sweet Palermo, snack-size pepper Tatayoyo, snack cucumbers MyCubies and snack solutions that connect directly with consumer preferences.

Holland Fresh Group

At Asia Fruit Logistica 2026, the Dutch collective organised by Holland Fresh Group is bringing together leading expertise from across the fresh produce value chain.

Representing innovation, quality, and collaboration, the group includes Fruit Masters, The Fruit Republic, Xenia, Aweta, BG Industrial Doors, Frigotec, Salco and Greefa. Together, they present a unified vision of delivering premium fresh products supported by cutting-edge technology and efficient logistics.

The collective is placing an emphasis on fresh, high-quality fruit tailored to the evolving demands of Asian consumers. Visitors can expect a “vibrant showcase” of European apples, pears and berries, with a strong focus on consistency, taste, and sustainability. In addition, the collective will highlight other fruit like pomelos, seedless limes and dragon fruit.

Innovation plays a central role, with advanced sorting and grading technologies from Aweta and Greefa demonstrating how precision and data-driven solutions can enhance product quality and reduce waste, while BG Industrial Doors focuses on high-performance door systems designed for temperature-controlled environments.

In close collaboration with Frigotec, the company will showcase integrated solutions that optimise cold storage efficiency, minimise energy loss, and safeguard product freshness throughout handling and storage processes – solutions that are increasingly vital for long-distance export markets such as Asia. Over the past year, the participating companies have made progress in sustainability, digitalisation and market expansion.

“What sets this Dutch collective apart is its integrated approach: combining premium fresh produce with world-class technology and logistics expertise,” states Holland Fresh Group. “By working together, these companies offer a comprehensive solution – from orchard to consumer – tailored to the dynamic Asian market.”

Planasa

Berry breeder Planasa will use Asia Fruit Logistica 2026 to showcase its latest blueberry varieties, long-term seedling strategies and technical support services as it continues to expand its presence in China and across Asia.

Over the past year, Planasa China has focused on strengthening its core business of supplying blueberry seedlings to the market and supporting local growers. The company has expanded authorised variety partnerships in Yunnan and other key production regions, while further developing its standardised cultivation support system.

“Our focus has been on providing reliable supply of premium exclusive blueberry seedlings and professional full-cycle technical planting support for local growers,” says Jeffrey Fan, managing director of Planasa China.

At the trade fair, the company will also present its plans to gradually introduce raspberry and other high-quality berry varieties into the Chinese market. Fan remains optimistic about the outlook for 2026, driven by growing demand for high-quality, high-yield blueberry varieties across China and Asia. “Key opportunities include the continuous expansion of berry planting areas in China, increasing market recognition of improved varieties, and further optimised policies for cross-border seedling introduction,” he says.

Asia remains central to Planasa’s global strategy, with China as the company’s core Asia-Pacific market, alongside South-East Asia, Japan and Korea. The company will continue to focus on variety promotion, safe seedling movement and responding to changing market needs.

Decco

Over the past year, Decco has seen continued growth in Asia and globally, driven by export expansion and increasing demand for premium postharvest solutions. The company has focused on integrated approaches combining treatments, digital packhouse systems and automation to improve efficiency and consistency.

“The postharvest sector is experiencing a steady consolidation with integrated solutions,” says Virginia Martinez. “Globally, multinational players continue to set benchmarks in fruit quality and supply chain efficiency through integrated offerings combining coatings, fungicides and digital packhouse solutions.”

Asia remains a strategic growth region for Decco, with South-East Asia, India and China among its key markets. The company expects future growth to be shaped by export demand, stricter quality requirements, improved cold chain infrastructure and the continued adoption of automation and sustainable post-harvest technologies.

For the remainder of 2026, Decco expects positive market conditions, supported by strong export demand, rising quality standards and wider adoption of sustainable technologies. Opportunities are particularly strong in South-East Asia and India, driven by expanding fruit exports and growing interest in residue-compliant solutions.

“Success will depend on localisation, regulatory agility and cost-effective innovation,” Martinez says.

Fepex

The Spanish fruit and vegetable industry has continued to demonstrate resilience over the past year, adapting to climate uncertainty, rising costs and increasing international competition. According to the technical department of exporter federation Fepex, companies have maintained investment in varietal innovation, digitalisation, automation, sustainability and water and energy efficiency to strengthen their competitiveness.

“Internationalisation remains a key strategic pillar for the sector,” Fepex says. “Asia Fruit Logistica represents a strategic event for Fepex and Spanish companies to strengthen trade relationships with Asian clients and showcase an offering rooted in quality, innovation and food safety.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Fepex sees a moderately positive outlook, supported by continued global demand for fresh produce. However, the sector faces challenges including climate change, water availability, labour shortages, rising production costs and regulatory pressures.

“Spain does not compete on volume alone. Our greatest strength is reliability: offering international customers a continuous supply, high-quality products, full traceability and compliance with some of the world’s strictest phytosanitary and food safety standards,” the association says.

While Europe remains Spain’s main export market, Fepex sees Asia as a region with significant growth potential, with China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam among the priority destinations for future expansion.

HiYa! Fruit

HiYa! Fruit is the Asian sourcing and sales arm of UK importer Richard Hochfeld Group. It supplies premium fresh fruit from growers and exporters around the world to customers across Greater China and Asia. The importer’s year-round portfolio includes Chilean cherries, table grapes, apples, plums, citrus, Peruvian blueberries, Filipino pineapples, and premium Thai durian.

The company has exhibited at Asia Fruit Logistica for a number of years, and says the show is one of the most important events in its calendar. Its focus is on “dependable supply programmes, quality assurance and tailored solutions for retailers, wholesalers and importers across Asia”, according to Hochfeld International’s MD Martin O’Sullivan.

HiYa! Fruit’s main market is Greater China, where it works with leading retailers, importers, wholesalers and e-commerce businesses. In addition, the business continues to develop opportunities across other Asian markets as demand grows. Over the past year, HiYa! Fruit has continued to strengthen its global sourcing network and expand its year-round supply programmes, increasing its focus on Chinese blueberries.

Keitt Exporters

Kenya’s Keitt will be highlighting its key products at Asia Fruit Logistica, including avocados, Tenderstem broccoli, French beans, a range of mini-vegetables and herbs. “Our main focus is on the Chinese and Indian markets, which have been growing steadily,” says the company’s Anne Kavai. “We are seeing consumption of avocados growing in these regions.”

Like other Kenyan exporters, Keitt has faced major logistical challenges this year as a result of the Iran-Israel war, with routes to the Middle East badly affected. “This left us with only our East Asian options, which were okay,” says Kavai. “Europe is still shaky due to long transits, which is the primary reason we have put a lot of focus on India, China and other East Asian markets.”

Grapa Global

Known for developing the earliest white, red and black seedless grapes on the market, and with its varieties now grown in 37 countries, California-based breeder Grapa Global is focusing on expanding its presence across Asian markets and Australia.

“Australia has emerged as a key source for these markets, driven by the successful introduction of standout varieties such as Arra Honey Pop, Arra Fire Crunch and Arra Cherry Crush,” says Grapa’s Nomi Karniel. “These grapes have demonstrated not only strong consumer appeal but also remarkable resilience in challenging climatic conditions, including intense heatwaves and heavy rainfall.”

China has already achieved commercial adoption with Arra Mystic Dream and is actively trialling additional varieties, such as Arra Cherry Crush which is also proving successful in India.

“As commercial volumes continue to grow across Asian markets, feedback throughout the value chain has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Karniel. “Growers appreciate the agronomic performance and reliability, while retailers and buyers are responding enthusiastically to the grapes’ distinctive flavour profiles, visual appeal and consistency.”

Over the past two years, the Grapa Global team has visited key markets including Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam to present the most promising varieties and to strengthen relationships between growers and buyers (see p122 for more info). “Visitors to Asia Fruit Logistica will have the opportunity to experience Grapa’s next generation of varieties, taking the eating experience to a new level by combining signature crunch with unique, layered flavour profiles,” says Karniel.

Agreen

Part of Egypt’s El Banna Group, Agreen claims to be the biggest grower and exporter of citrus in Egypt and the Middle East, with over 45,000 acres (18,210 ha) of production and annual exports of more than 200,000 tonnes of fresh produce.

The business supplies fruit to more than 65 countries, and its key markets are Europe, the UK, Brazil, China, Russia, Ukraine, Scandinavia, the Far East, the Gulf, the Baltic states, and Africa. Its main exports are oranges, mandarins, grapefruits and lemons, as well as Barhi dates. And in the past year, Agreen has established a sister company for frozen and concentrated juice products.

The company has exhibited at AsiaFruit Logistica since 2017 and is expanding its presence this year.

Daltex

Daltex is one of Egypt’s leading fresh produce companies, with over six decades of experience in the production, packing, and export of premium fruit and vegetables. Its diverse and expanding portfolio includes potatoes, citrus, grapes, mangoes and pomegranates.

The supplier says its participation at Asia Fruit Logistica is part of continuous efforts to strengthen relationships with international buyers and expand its presence in Asia and other global markets.

“This year, we will highlight our continued investments in quality systems, variety development, and operational excellence, alongside our ability to provide a diverse range of products aligned with international customer requirements,” the company says.

In Asia, Daltex continues to explore new growth opportunities and strengthen market access across the region. The business is actively developing opportunities in markets such as Korea, including expanding access for citrus. And in the past 12 months it has successfully established new product export protocols with the Philippines.

The International Company for Packing and Refrigeration

Based in El Sadat City near Cairo, The International Company for Packing and Refrigeration was established in 1994 and has become a trusted exporter of high-quality fresh produce. Also known as El Moughrabi, the business has exhibited at Asia Fruit Logistica since the show’s inception.

The company specialises in growing, packing, and exporting high-quality citrus, pomegranate and mangoes. It serves customers across Europe, Russia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and the Gulf, and is targeting markets in the Americas and South Africa in future.

Pico

Pico is a major Egyptian producer of high-quality soft fruits and exotics. Headquartered in Cairo, the business supplies major retailers across Europe – such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Rewe, Edeka, Carrefour, Albert Heijn, and Delhaize – as well as others in South Africa, Asia and the Gulf.

Pico has participated in Asia Fruit Logistica since 2016, and will also exhibit this year, showcasing new varieties of grapes for export to target markets in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, US, Canada and Asia. The producer says it prides itself on fully complying with the EU’s strict MRL and spray regulations.

In the past year, Pico has increased its grape and avocado yield, as well as extending its packhouses.The producer has also launched an e-commerce platform for the local Egyptian market, allowing customers to order all its products through an app. And it has expanded its range of added-value products, including frozen strawberries, mangoes and avocado and lychee, as well as honey-based jams.

Fruit South Africa

Improved market access will again be high on the agenda for South Africans at Asia Fruit Logistica, with the presence of Fruit South Africa once more being a gathering point for the export industry.

The uncertainty brought about by the war in the Middle East and the disruption caused by increased trade tariffs have placed better and improved access to the markets of Asia front and centre. Boitshoko Ntshabele, chief executive of the Citrus Growers’ Association of South Africa (CGA), says South-East Asian markets will feature strongly, while the in-transit cold treatment protocol to India will hopefully soon be implemented.

South African stonefruit

Stonefruit exporters from South Africa are looking forward to their first full season in China after gaining access to the market last year. “Our first deliveries last year were well received, and we are able to supply the market earlier than our competitors,” says JJ Van der Spuy of Core Fruit.

Exporters say prunes, baby plums and some other plum varieties offer great opportunities.

While South African blueberry producers are still awaiting access to China, it is clear that South Africa’s production window will fit in well with competitive supplies.Producers note that South Africa can supply in the period of Chinese New Year, when demand is normally higher.

SATI 

After successful previous market development campaigns in China and – this season – in Indonesia, the South African Table Grape industry is looking to extend into Korea next season.

South Africa is expected to highlight its new range of high-quality varieties of red and white grapes that are finding favour with consumers across the region.

 

 

Hortgro

Asia is already the most important marketing region for South African apples, and pear exports are also growing at a fast rate. Hortgro says China, Thailand and India are the main focus points where exciting promotional activities were mounted this year. These are likely to be expanded next year.

Industry sources say China is already South Africa’s most important trading partner in Asia, and promotional activities organised this year are expected to further boost this position.

ClemenGold

ClemenGold says it is looking to further leverage world-class brands, technology, and streamlined supply chain processes, through its interactions at this year’s Asia Fruit Logistica.

Through its interactions with customers at the event, ClemenGold International continues to build a resilient platform for growth benefiting customers and growers.

As owner of the globally recognised ClemenGold and Sweet C mandarin brands, the company says its approach, along with key stakeholders, centres on a deep understanding of its customers, the dynamics of the global fresh fruit industry, and pioneering fruit marketing and branding. By selling counter-seasonal mandarins from China to key regional markets, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, it is making Sweet C mandarins available close to 12 months of the year.