"The fruit production season in the Southern Hemisphere perfectly complements a relatively quiet period in the Chinese fruit market. We mainly import from South Africa. We even established a branch office there so that we can participate in every step of the production process from fruit plantation to product selection and packaging. We make sure to select fresh fruit that best meets Chinese market requirements. In addition, we also import from Peru, Chile, and Egypt. We import grapefruit, lemons, oranges, tangerines, and various sorts of grapes. We mainly deal in citrus fruits and grapes," said Li Zong of Guangzhou Berda Fruit Co., Ltd.
Li Zong of Guangzhou Berda Fruit Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Berda Fruit is specialized in fruit import services and direct import from farms in the Southern Hemisphere. The company has more than 23 years of experience in the fruit import market. The company established the original 'Golden Cheetah' brand for the citrus fruits and grapes imported from South Africa. In addition to traditional wholesale markets, the company is also active on e-commerce platforms and various streaming platforms. Their clients include wholesale traders, milk tea shops, fruit processing factories, and fruit shops in cities across China.
"Honesty and trust are key in the fruit industry," said Li Zong empathetically. "Many clients have suffered since the outbreak of Covid-19, but we have been able to use our reputation and online marketing strategies to stimulate online trade. Of course, this pandemic has also been a difficult challenge for our product quality team who have worked very hard to ensure the highest product quality. At the same time, we have also been able to expand wholesale trade. The sales figures of our company have improved in the last two years."
South African seedless Midnight Beauty
"We used to import from even more countries, but they do not all meet the specific requirements of the Chinese market, so in the end we decided to consolidate our position in a small number of countries and stimulate development there. In addition, we have also begun to develop services for premium domestic fruit. We help clients reduce various segments in the distribution process, because fruit stays fresh for longer if the supply chain is kept short. For example, there is huge market demand for citrus fruits in the summer. So we offer milk tea shops and other beverage shops delivery directly to their warehouses or even to their stores," explained Li Zong.
When talking about the impact of the pandemic on their company, Li Zong mentioned two different aspects. First, distribution slowed down. "In the past our import fruit took roughly twenty days to arrive, but now that can be as much as forty or fifty days. Fruit can easily spoil during such long delays." Another problem is a delay in the company expansion program. "We were about to set up companies and teams in Peru and Chile before the pandemic broke out. We have had to put our plans on hold. However, we were able to proceed with our branch office in South Africa. And in April we will officially open our packing factory there. That will be an important milestone for our company this year."
South African Valencia oranges
When asked about the company prospects this year, Li Zong said that there will be no major changes until May, but in the summer the market will gradually improve. Li Zong emphasized the need for a stable and suitable development of the industry and expressed a generally positive view on the future of the import fruit industry.
For more information:
Dean Zhang
Guangzhou Berda Fruit Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 159 0204 0737
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.berdafruit.com