BETKO NEWS

BETKO FRESH PRODUCE OFFERS THE HIGHEST QUALITY FRUIT

Good start to 2008 season for Betko

13 February 2008

Betko Fresh Produce says its first fruit of the 2008 season has been well received in a strong market in Europe. Betko’s Marketing Manager, Roux Groenewald, says the company shipped its first Williams Bon Chretien at the end of week 2 and shipments of this variety have been completed.

“We have now moved on to Royal Gala apples and Packhams Triump pears and have also been able to ship our first containers of these varieties to the Far East,” says Mr Groenewald. “The European market has been strong so far and we are also getting a big boost from the decline in the value of the South African currency against the US Dollar, the British Pound and the Euro.

However, Mr Groenewald warned that input cost which are dollar based, will also increase significantly because of the decline of the Rand. “But all in all we have strated the season well and is confident that we can maintain this throughout the year.”

Betko will start packing its Golden Delicious apples in week 9, the full red varieties a week later and Granny Smith in week 13.

Mr Groenewald says Betko has been able to establish strong ties with buyers in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. “We visited the region last year and the relations that we have established are growing strongly.

Betko is also pleased with the development of its sales into Africa, which Mr Groenewald describes as a fast growing market for South African fruit. “We are shipping a lot of Panorama Golden to West Africa and we are experiencing strong demand.

Betko annually packs around 48 000 tons of apples and pears. Of this volume 80% represents apples. The pack house and cold storage complex at Villiersdorp in the Western Cape has 72 Controlled Atmosphere rooms with a total capacity of 98 000 bulk bins. The pack house is BRC certified and meets the highest food safety and environmental standards. 

Mr Groenewald says Betko’s success is based on its strong people orientation. “Betko is a people’s business, with more than 400 permanent work opportunities being provided to the local community. In season we employ up to 550 people.”

Betko’s investment in people is also demonstrated by the financial investment in a housing complex where the company built 35 homes for its workers.

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