Despite climatic challenges facing the island of Mauritius, exporter Bella Fruitiva continues to see good opportunities for its exotics, including breadfruit and fresh lychees
Exporter Bella Fruitiva, a branch of Bella Exofruita in Mauritius, continues to see UK demand grow for its range of exotic products, including breadfruit, tropical avocados, June plums and lychees.
A principal strategic focus for the current season, according to managing director Vickram Meghu, is the scaled introduction of the group’s fresh lychee offering. “Following a successful pilot last year that generated exceptional market validation, we are now positioned for a significant uptake,” he reveals.
The UK market is expressing a strong preference for the company’s non-sulphur treated fresh lychees, Meghu says. “This provides a critical competitive differentiation against the sulphur-preserved lychees typically available on the UK shelves,” he explains. “This positive signal from the market underscores the commercial potential of the category, not just in the UK, but also in the broader European market.”
Meghu also sees good potential for breadfruit, a product that has grown fast in the UK, as well as in France and Germany, with Bella Fruitiva doubling its volumes to the European market in 2024. The main impediment to such growth appears to be climate change, including increasingly unpredictable rainfall.
Climate change has had a noticeable impact in certain seasons,” says Meghu. “For example, the breadfruit season was significantly delayed in 2025. The previous year, we began exporting breadfruit at the start of October, whereas this season began only in around mid-December. This shift highlights the growing challenges producers are facing and the importance of adapting supply chains.”
