Zespri’s reach hits historic 100 million households, eyes further growth

GLOBAL – Zespri, a global kiwifruit marketer, has reached a major milestone, with its kiwifruit products now in over 100 million households worldwide for the first time.

This signals increasing consumer demand for kiwifruit, according to the company.

Zespri’s core markets now have a household penetration rate of around 23%, based on shopper panel data.

The company credits its strong brand presence and consumer interest for this growth. Jiunn Shih, Zespri’s Chief Marketing, Innovation, and Sustainability Officer, acknowledged the success, emphasizing the company’s focus on highlighting the health benefits of kiwifruit.

“While kiwifruit continues to rise in popularity, there is still plenty of untapped demand which presents an opportunity for Zespri and our growers to continue to supply good quality fruit to grow household penetration further as volume increases,” he stated.

Zespri has widened its market reach and adopted multiple sales channels to improve accessibility. The company sees further potential for growth, as more consumers prioritize healthy food choices.

With consumer interest increasing, Zespri anticipates supplying over 200 million trays of kiwifruit from New Zealand this season. This reflects confidence in future expansion and continued value for growers.

Recent financial reports indicate strong performance for the 2023/24 season. Global operating revenue reached NZ$4.21 billion (USD 2.36 billion), including licence revenue.

Global fruit sales revenue amounted to NZ$3.99 billion (USD 2.24 billion), while total payments for New Zealand-grown fruit and services were NZ$2.29 billion (USD 1.29 billion), including loyalty premiums.

The company recorded 164.2 million trays sold, a decline from 183.5 million in 2022. Net profit after tax stood at NZ$173.3 million (USD 97.05 million), down from NZ$238.7 million in the previous season. Total dividends were reported at NZ$0.85 (USD 0.56) per share.

Despite a challenging growing season, Zespri delivered record average per-tray returns to growers in most categories, with the exception of Organic SunGold Kiwifruit.

Improved fruit quality and strong pricing contributed to a 2% rise in global sales, reaching NZ$3.99 billion (USD 2.24 billion).

Zespri gathers shopper panel data from established research firms, including Kantar Worldpanel, GfK, Truedata, Nielsen, and Numerator.

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