As part of plans to significantly expand its US apple program, T&G Global, known widely through its US subsidiary EnzaFruit Products Inc (EPI), have opened a new North American office and added an additional domestic sales agent as part of plans to expand their US apple programme significantly over the next six years.
The new T&G Global Washington office is in Wenatchee, Washington State, close to the major growing regions and T&G’s grower and distribution partners. The physical presence will facilitate stronger relationships with key stakeholders across the supply chain.
The establishment of a regional office also sees T&G Global (though its EPI subsidiary) becoming the master licence manager for North American distribution on the 1st September 2016. This includes the exclusive management of the export programme for T&G’s US origin fruit through its North American export market team office based in California.
The Oppenheimer Group (Oppy) will continue to handle the majority of the Enza North American programme and significantly grow its sales into the future, leveraging its extensive market experience and long-term relationship with T&G. The volume reflects the strong contribution Oppy have made to the establishment of the Enza programme for over a half a century and the value created through its varieties and brands.
T&G Global has also appointed Columbia Marketing International (CMI), as its third domestic sales agent starting with the 2016 season – this is a natural alignment within the program as McDougall and Sons, one of three packers of Enza fruit and a major grower of Enza varieties, is an owner of CMI. The efforts of CMI will complement those of established distributors Oppy and Rainier Fruit Company (RFC); together the three agents will each sell all of the T&G apple varieties.
“It’s a natural fit for CMI to join our other two very strong sales agents as CMI’s owners have already been growing and packing all three of the T&G varieties for many years” say’s Darren Drury Executive General Manager of Pipfruit for T&G Global.
Drury says these initiatives underpin a plan to grow the Enza programme from the current 2 million plus cartons per annum to more than triple this number by 2022.
“Pipfruit remains a key focus and a major part of T&G’s business globally, supported by our outstanding varieties and brands such as Jazz™, Envy™ and Pacific Rose™, an expanding grower base and a global export network,” he says.
"Following BayWa’s majority shareholding in T&G in 2012, we have been building our apple and pear programme linked to our new global strategy.
“Our North American strategy has been built on the continuing growth and momentum of the apple industry in the USA, with consumers falling in love with the apple and pear category again.”
Drury says this is based on the emergence of new and full flavour managed varieties that have developed strong followings with US and international consumers.
“The Enza programme has been built on selecting growers who share the values and vision of T&G and the exceptional varieties that make up the program including Jazz and Envy, and also Pacific Rose.”
A key plank in T&G’s success and future growth plans is built around its strong relationships with growers, distributors, domestic retailers and export customers.
“We place a major emphasis on our relationships across the supply chain and we are delighted to have strong distribution partners such as Oppy, RFC and CMI.”
Drury said the company is also working hard to ensure growth and demand are linked to maximise returns for growers and distributors, and continue to meet customer expectations and evolving consumer taste preferences.
