Zespri opens Singapore hub to focus on Asia
PRIME Minister John Key has opened Zespri’s new office in Singapore, from where the company will direct its global marketing.
Until now Zespri’s chief marketing managers have been based in New Zealand, Holland and Japan. Chairman Peter McBride said it was a significant move for the company’s culture.
‘‘The market side of leadership will be in one place. We want to have one company, one culture, one team,’’ McBride said.
He said the office would also provide a focus on the Southeast Asia region.
‘‘The Southeast Asian region is an important growth market for Zespri, with forecast sales of around $78 million this season and sales volumes set to almost double over the next five years,’’ McBride said.
Zespri calculates sales of nearly four million trays in Southeast Asia this season.
The hub will offer corporate support services to nearby Asian markets including China – Zespri’s country markets.
Zespri overall sales for 2014-15 were $1.57 billion, up 16 per cent on the year before. Export returns were up 18 per cent on the previous season at $1.086b. Japan largest and two
McBride said Asia ‘‘massive’’ growth region.
‘‘Last year we had one office in China, we’re doubling the size of that, and now also have three new small ones in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Staff numbers in China have climbed from 13 to 27 in one year. We just can’t run fast enough,’’ he said.
Singapore was a good location because of its transport links between New Zealand and the rest of the world. The office would not be an extra expense because it was already being used.
McBride said the city-state was also an excellent test market for new varieties of kiwifruit.
Key joined a delegation of Maori kiwifruit growers on a marketing visit to Asia for a traditional Maori blessing of the new office and its whakiro/carving.
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