After intensive preparatory work, the new Kiwi consortium KIKOKA (Europe) was formed,. 11 shareholders signed the documents at the notary and immediately afterwards elected the board members. Andrea Peviani (Peviani S.p.a., Italy) will lead the company as the new President in the coming years. The Board of Directors then appointed Fabio Zanesco as the new CEO of the company, starting in his new position as from September 1st, 2024.
"It is a great vote of confidence from all shareholders, because we know that we are starting almost from scratch," comments Andrea Peviani. "Everything needs to be set up in the coming months to be prepared for what is the mission of the company: selling of the best yellow kiwis produced and supplied by our members."
Fabio Zanesco, who is coming from apple marketer VIP (Latsch/Italy) with 20 years of experience in the fruit industry, "After almost two decades in the apple business, I face this new challenge with great motivation and energy. I am convinced that the market is ready for a new major player, which will bring significant volumes to the market in the coming years and will be able to weigh on the choices of European retailers in the main market windows. The product we are proposing to consumers has an extra-ordinary taste and will be supported by all the agronomic and commercial experience of the members and staff of the Consortium. Our aim is to bean key supplier and category-developer at European level."
Marco Rivoira, CEO of Rivoira Group (Italy), the global master licensee of two yellow-fleshed kiwi varieties owned by the University of Udine (Italy), sees the project now having reached an important milestone: "It all started in 2008 with intensive testing of thousands of seedling by our partner New Kiwi Plant, but finally, we have two fantastic varieties in our hands, which give a sustainable agronomic answer to our growers and guarantee high consumer satisfaction. We have been hard at work to build a strong network of partners in Europe, and now we have done it: the Consortium is born. The Consortium will not only be responsible in the coming decades for all sales, but also for communication and marketing activities for the KIKOKA brand in Europe."
The 11 shareholders: From Italy - Apo Scaligera (Zevio), Clementi (Laives), Kiwi Uno (Verzuolo), OP Armonia (Battipaglia), Peviani (Siziano), Rivoira (Verzuolo), Zeoli Fruit, (Cisterna di Latina ); France - Innatis (Angers ), Savajols (St.Rambert d'Albon); Spain - Surexport (Sevilla) and Greece - Zeus Kiwi (Katerini).
Plantings
To date, 1.550 hectares have been licensed in Europe with 317 hectares that have been planted until 2023. An additional 275 hectares are planned by the partners for planting in 2024/2025. A first commercial crop of about 450 tons has been harvested in autumn 2023. The crop expected for fall 2024 will be >3.000 tons, all to be sold under the KIKOKA brand.
For more information:
The Kiwi Consortium KIKOKA (Europe)
Email: [email protected]