The response has been fantastic and everyone is excited to return to Hong Kong, the heart of Asia’s fresh produce industry. Exhibitors report a series of back-to-back meetings and invaluable personal interactions at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA. Business is in full swing and the excitement is evident throughout the event.
ASIA FRUIT AWARDS: 2024 Winners Announced
The annual Pan-Asian Awards, presented by ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA and ASIAFRUIT MAGAZINE, celebrate excellence and recognise outstanding achievements in Asia’s fresh fruit and vegetable business.
The winners were announced during a presentation ceremony today on the stage of the ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS.
MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR: AUSTRALIAN AVOCADOS
Hort Innovation and Avocados Australia have won the Marketing Campaign of the Year award for the 2023/24 Australian Avocados campaign. The extensive international marketing campaign spanned seven different markets including Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India and the GCC region. It involved over 30 retailers across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, as well as major importers and leading online retail platforms. Australian Avocados’ marketing campaign consisted of an effective mix of B2C and B2B activities. Hort Innovation delivered the B2C campaign, with agency Bastion handling the in-market execution, to showcase Australian Avocados as ‘a premium choice’ for consumers. Industry body Avocados Australia led the B2B activities, working closely with Hort Innovation and other service providers.
IMPORTER OF THE YEAR: MAU ALEGRÍA ALA GROUP
Joy Wing Mau Group, a leading global fruit distributor based in China, has won the Importer of the Year Award. Already recognised as one of China’s leading fruit importers, Joy Wing Mau was singled out for the progress it has made in several areas of the business over the past year. The group was recognised for its role in developing business relationships and cooperation models with key global supplier countries to China, such as New Zealand, Thailand and Chile. Joy Wing Mau has also collaborated with global logistics service providers to develop faster and more efficient routes to the imported fruit market. These include innovative solutions such as chartered ships and flights, combined sea-air transport and decentralised customs clearance at multiple ports.
Joy Wing Mau Group, a leading global fruit distributor based in China, has won the Importer of the Year Award. Already recognised as one of China’s leading fruit importers, Joy Wing Mau was singled out for the progress it has made in several areas of the business over the past year. The group was recognised for its role in developing business relationships and cooperation models with key global supplier countries to China, such as New Zealand, Thailand and Chile. Joy Wing Mau has also collaborated with global logistics service providers to develop faster and more efficient routes to the imported fruit market. These include innovative solutions such as chartered ships and flights, combined sea-air transport and decentralised customs clearance at multiple ports.
RETAILER OF THE YEAR: CLUB SAM CHINA
The Produce Retailer of the Year award went to Sam’s Club China. Walmart introduced the members-only warehouse club format to China more than 28 years ago with the opening of the first Sam’s Club in Shenzhen. Today, Sam’s Club has nearly 50 stores across the country. By leveraging its global sourcing network and improving end-to-end efficiency, Sam’s Club has built member trust in its private brands with assurances of quality products at reasonable prices. Sam’s Club China was also recognized for its commitment to improving the fresh produce offering for consumers. This effort spans the entire supply chain, from working with seed growers and intellectual property variety companies to introduce new and improved products, to the retailer’s proactive approach to food safety standards and processes, to in-store merchandising.
IMPACT AWARD: HORTIFRUT IG BERRIES
Hortifrut IG Berries received the Impact Award for its pioneering efforts in helping build the blueberry category from scratch in India.
IG Berries was established in 2017 as a joint venture between Indian fruit importer IG International, Australian breeder and marketer Mountain Blue Orchards (MBO) and agribusiness investor Mano D Babiolakis.
The partners developed a vertically integrated blueberry growing and marketing operation from scratch. This included building their own tissue culture laboratory to propagate plants and a complete nursery, finding suitable planting locations, and managing the supply chain to the end consumer.
