Producing fruit juice that’s pumped with flavour

Fruit juices are one of the fastest-growing agro-processing sub-sectors. According to the Insight Survey 2020, the South African juice market is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.9% between 2019 to 2023.

While this is a more subdued growth rate than the market achieved in preceding years (CAGR of 2.8% over 2013 to 2018), this projection also takes into account the inescapable impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the same forecast period. And this projected growth despite the pandemic demonstrates the value proposition of the local fruit juice market – not only for local consumption but as a keen exporter to numerous markets, including Netherlands, USA, Canada, Singapore and Japan. Substantiating this forecasted growth is the change that can be seen in consumer behaviour and consumption, as more consumers become health conscious and look to switch to food and beverages that offer higher nutritional value for their money’s worth. Ready to serve the more mindful consumer, South Africa’s premier 100% pure and natural fruit juices offer good quality products and numerous flavours, with staples like apple, grape, pineapple and exotic blends forming the basis of the South African range. That said, remaining competitive in an increasingly saturated market is no small feat. From crop to grading, to the perfect blend and everything delectably juicy in between; for every processor in this market, ensuring high product quality – both in terms of flavour and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public/end consumer – is critical to their business sustainability. Maintaining the highest standards in hygiene in the production of their products is non-negotiable, as even the slightest contamination could mean a batch of product is unusable, or unsafe for consumption, which could lead to product recalls, financial losses and potential reputational risks. Producing high-quality fruit juice products every time, therefore, requires machines that are 100% reliable,