"Last weekend I was in Tokyo at Foodex Japan - Asia's international food and beverage fair - and I had a very clear sense of how highly Japanese culture values certified quality food. Agrumi-Gel, with its Sicilian blood orange and lemon juices celebrated, just this year, the fifteen-year anniversary of its collaboration with the well-known multinational Sumitomo Corporation Foods.
It was precisely at this celebration that our two companies reinforced their mutual partnership and business partnership with each other on the supply of concentrated natural citrus juices," says Salvatore Imbesi manager of Agrumi-Gel, a well-known Sicilian brand specializing in the processing of citrus, pomegranate, prickly pear and summer fruits.
"I was very glad,” explained Salvatore Imbesi, “to capture the appreciation of Japanese operators for the genuine Italian products, and this proves how strategic the Japanese market is for the citrus juices that characterize our region. More generally, the Japanese are particularly interested in health products under the protected geographical indications. On this occasion, I told them about a niche market that also involves our lemons (Limone IGP dell'Etna).
"In this regard, we are trying to build new commercial outlets within the Rete d’impresa Etna's (Etna's Business Network) so as to create a supply chain for the juice of this prized citrus fruit, in order to make it easily identifiable on the markets. This was the case for Pomegranate juice, of which the Japanese are large consumers. People immediately picked up on its uniqueness and differences in taste compared to the foreign product."
"The major Japanese companies in the Sumitomo Corporation Foods group have appreciated the unique authenticity of the product. Over the years, the Agrumi-Gel brand also gained notoriety on the Japanese markets through the promotion of natural pomegranate juice and Sicilian prickly pear juice. Prickly pear juice specifically could meet the taste of the Japanese consumer not only because it is a healthy fruit with a sweet and pleasant taste, but also because Japanese people are used to drinking vegetable drinks."
"The direction that Agrumi-Gel has been pursuing for years," concluded Salvatore Imbesi, "is for citrus fruits, as well as Pomegranate, Lemon and, most recently, Prickly Pear, which are functional to the success of an entire supply chain where, in order to grow, it is necessary to join forces and focus on aggregated forms of production to ensure volumes and continuity of supply. Therefore, alongside our commitment, a change of mentality is also needed, trusting each other to be able to achieve critical mass with a view to defend ourselves from foreign productions."
Agrumi-Gel exports its products to five continents. Percentage volumes are broken down in different geographical areas: 10 percent Italy; 50 percent Europe; 15 percent Japan; 10 percent America. The brand sells directly to bottling companies, worldwide. The product is supplied in 220-liter metal barrels, 25-kg plastic kegs and buckets, and 25-ton tanks.
The recipients of the products are multinational corporations and companies engaged in the production of beverages or cosmetic products and high perfumery with regard to the supply of essential oils. With the recent implementation of a finished product packaging department, individual consumers will also be able to choose the brand when purchasing beverages.
For more information: 
Agrumi-Gel S.r.l.
C.da Girotta
98051 - Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (ME)
(+39) 090 9707329
(+39) 090 9797967
+39 329 354 0163
[email protected]
www.agrumigel.it