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BETKO FRESH PRODUCE OFFERS THE HIGHEST QUALITY FRUIT

Betko kicking goals as World Cup approaches

22 February 2010

With 100 days to go to this year’s Soccer World Cup in South Africa, just about everyone in the South African fruit industry is trying to utilize some opportunities which results from this business to boost their business.

South African exporter, Betko Fresh Produce, is one of South Africa’s leading exporters who is making the most of Soccer World Cup 2010. Soon after the announcement of South Africa as world cup venue, Betko launched its Goal Fruit brand which has become very popular amongst local and international fans.

‘We are very pleased with the development of Goal Fruit,” says Roux Groenewald, Marketing Director. “After four years there is no doubt that it is making an impact and we are expecting growing demand, particular amongst the fanatical supporters in South Africa’s rural regions.”

Goal fruit will also soon make it debut in the United Kingdom, where Poupart Imports wants to include it amongst it growing number of uniquely South African brands. “Our customers are looking for grower brands and our business is increasing with customers who grow confidence in these brands,” says Jonathan Olins, Managing Director of Poupart Imports.

He says Goal Fruit fits well into this category and is likely to receive some additional attention as interest in the World Cup grows.

Mr Groenewald says the Villiersdorp based operation is expecting a good harvest of high quality fruit. “The pear market, which was so good last year, will be much tougher and apples will be the same. However, if you have good quality and taste you can go a long way.”

Betko is a family owned operation with modern cold storage and packing facility located on the outskirts of Villiersdorp in the Vyeboom region of South Africa’s Western Cape Province. The company annually packs 48 000 tons of apples and pears. Of this volume 80% represents apples. The pack house and cold storage complex has 72 Controlled Atmosphere rooms with a total capacity of 98 000 bulk bins.

Betko has achieved remarkable international success given the fact that it only started exporting at the end of deregulation. Innovative branding and packing concepts are some of the reasons for its success. The markets in Africa are most important for the South African industry and Betko is one of the leading exporters who helped to develop this business.

The Betko brand is already well known in both the international and local markets, and the company’s second brand, Goal Fruit, is proving a winner as South Africa is preparing to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

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