The new management team of KIKOKÁ in Europe, presented within the framework of Fruit Attraction, the production forecasrts for this yellow kiwi for the coming years.
At a special event prepared for the occasion, Marco Rivoira, CEO of RIVOIRA Group, and worldwide Masterlicensee of the KIKOKÁ project, has recalled the brand unveiled in Madrid twelve months ago. In the meantime, Rivoira and the 11 European Partners have founded the European KIKOKÁ Consortium, marking the first commercial campaign of this extraordinary yellow Kiwi.
At the event, Andrea Peviani, President of the European Consortium, has highlighted the vision of unity, cooperation and joint development of all members and licensees. Our shareholders, that make up this Consortium, are major players of the European F&V business – he added. Actually, the 11 fully-licensed members are APO Scaligera, Clementi, Innatis, Kiwi Uno, OP Armonia, Peviani, RK Hellas, Savajols, Surexport, Zeolifruit and Zeus Kiwi, to which we have to add two mayor grower groups like Arta Gold and Agrihold. This strong network represents production in 4 European countries, with a total managed surface of different fruit categories exceeding 8,000 hectares and more than 1,500 workers. “Together – emphasized Andrea Peviani – the KIKOKÁ Partners are holding production rights for 1,150 hectares in Italy, 400 in Greece, 300 in France and ha in Spain.” A total of 2,050 hectares, which demonstrates the enthusiasm of the partners and the seriousness of the project.
Fabio Zanesco, who recently joined as CEO the European Consortium, added: “Our vision and values advocate for the increase and promotion of the production and consumption of KIKOKÁ, while supporting the creation of value for all stakeholders, from consumers back to producers.” Zanesco also highlighted: “The KIKOKÁ project grants a longer season of local European production for yellow kiwi, allowing consumers to keep tasting these fantastic fruit during spring. There is clearly a lot to do to make these great kiwis shine as they deserve. I am sure that European consumers will greatly benefit from the joint work of the Companies that I am proud to represent. The growth in consumption of yellow kiwi is a fact, I believe KIKOKÁ increases the attractiveness of this exciting category and will soon be a first-class player in the market.” “The European production, “ he added, “ is already hitting the shelves: 2.000 tons available in 2024 will become around 8.000 in 2025 and then production will reach 15,000 tons in 2026.”
Gerhard Dichgans, Global Project Manager of KIKOKÁ, presented the future development of the project: “We now have a strong base in Europe, but our perspective is worldwide. Thanks to the foresight and proactive commitment of the variety owner, the University of Udine (Italy) and our partner NKP-New Kiwi Plant, we are completing the quarantine process and PVR protection in several countries in the Southern Hemisphere and – this is the great news of the last months – we are now ready to start the first plantings in Chile.” “Increasing production in both hemispheres will allow the project to reach its true potential: to be available worldwide all year round! Now we have two varieties covering – when grown in europe – a commercial window of 9 months, from October to May, to be followed in the future by larger volumes from the Southern Hemisphere.”
In his final conclusions, Marco Rivoira recalled that “we do not have to forget a key asset of this project: the two kiwi varieties are resilient to Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS) and PSA, as our test plantings have shown, and provide an agronomic answer to two of the biggest challenges facing kiwifruit growers today.”
“With 2,000 tons of fruit available this season,” he said, “and much more to come in 2025, we will see our kiwi on the shelves and we will do everything we can to ensure that KIKOKÁ becomes the brand our consumers love.”
