With less than three years under its belt, Berryland is still quite a new player. This Dutch company has, however, quickly become an established name in the soft fruit sector. Founded by Theo Benjert and Rob Pakvis, Berryland combines decades of experience with a young, flexible organization.

© Berryland

Berryland began 2.5 years ago, in partnership with the established Cool Control. It seemed to get off to a flying start, but its rapid expansion necessitated a relocation. “We now work with Looije Packing, which takes care of our packaging, sorting, and labeling, and RM Forwarding, which handles storage and transshipment. That’s exactly what we needed,” says Rob.

Along with trading activities, Berryland actively invests in cultivation projects. In Tanzania, for example, raspberry cultivation has grown from 120 to around 240 tons, with the goal of reaching 400 tons. And, in Egypt, with a local grower and breeder, research is being done into how to achieve year-round supply continuity.

© Berryland

The global blueberry market is normalizing after the damage El Niño wreaked in Peru. In September, supplies remained limited and prices high, but from November to January, a more abundant supply is expected. That will offer opportunities for promotions. The blueberry market seems to be gaining momentum when it comes to new varieties. Consumers are increasingly demanding larger berries (16–20 mm) with good flavor and bite. Those new varieties compete with Sekoya, while older, sour varieties are losing ground.

There are also more exports to new markets. “Markets in China and other Asian regions have been growing for years, but countries such as India are now also discovering blueberries. Those countries are home to hundreds of millions of people who still have little access to soft fruit. If that market opens up, the volumes from Peru won’t be nearly enough for a while.”

New challenge: Strawberries
Berryland has established a strong position in blueberries and raspberries, and has big expansion ambitions for that. However, there is one market where the company still has little influence: strawberries. That, though, seems to be changing, explains Rob: “We want to grow in the strawberry sector. We’re still limited in that area, but it’s definitely a focal point for the future. But strawberries require the right, knowledgeable, experienced people.”

© Berryland

Prospects
Berryland sees mainly growth opportunities for the future. “The soft fruit demand will only climb worldwide. Emerging markets like India and China are only just discovering blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. For us, it’s clear: we need not worry about the next ten years; the global soft fruit market will keep growing,” Rob concludes.

For more information:
Berryland
Tel.: +31 6 83431868
[email protected]
www.berryland.nl