Pear producers find lucrative market in India

South African pear producers

are upbeat about the

prospects of market growth

in India following a first-ofits-

kind promotion of local

pears in the country earlier

this year.

A joint effort by the

Capespan Group and the

Mumbai-based Yupaa

Group – in which Capespan

recently acquired a 35%

shareholding – it provided a

highly successful platform

for local producers, according

to Parth Karvat, head of

global procurement for

Yupaa, one of India’s largest

diversified fruit importers

and distributors.

“India has in recent years

become an increasingly

important market for South

African pears with a year-onyear

rise in import volumes,”

Karvat told FTW.

He said record sales

figures had been recorded

during the promotion

which targeted a variety of

importers including street

vendors.

“A lot of time and effort

went into educating the

Indian audience on the

production process,” he said.

According to Karvat there

is very little competition from

other southern hemisphere

pear-producing countries in

India which offers a significant

opportunity for South African

producers. “At the same

time the number of Indian

consumers with disposable

income is increasing in all

the cities. It really allows for

expansion into this market.”

According to Johan

Dique, managing director

of the Capespan Group,

sourcing new markets and

growing existing markets

remains a key strategy for

the group.

Whilst the primary

export fruits of interest for

India are still pome, citrus

fruits and apples, there is a

large appetite for pears, said

Karvat, who added that at

present there were simply

no challenges to expanding

to this sector.

CAPTION

Capespan fruit on sale from a street vendor in India – a growing market for South African

fresh produce.