FRUTCO
FRESH, FRUITY AND FULL OF FLAVOUR
Powered by Inside Food & Drink
insidefoodanddrink.com
FRUTCO
I PROFILE
First founded in 1992, Frutco has remained a major supplier within the natural ingredients market. With vast experience in tropical fruit trading, the company has recently expanded its offering, further developing its line of juices. Deputy General Manager Stefan Fischer explained more, in an exclusive interview with Inside Food & Drink. Report by Imogen Ward. 108 Inside food & drink
excess banana volumes. Over the years, Frutco has gone on to sell banana puree, and expand and diversify its offering with more exotic fruits. “Our long-standing partnership with Paradise Ingredients has afforded us many advantages, including, of course, its consistency in garnering high-quality produce and its access to some of the largest raw material stocks available,” Mr Fischer said. “Thanks to this, we are always able to answer client requests for additional stock.” Frutco is confident when it comes to increasing demand as Paradise Ingredients currently supplies the company with more than 15,000 tonnes of bananas annually. For Paradise this is just a fraction of what it produces each year, with an impressive crop
T
hanks to its long-standing represen-
yield of 45,000 tonnes. Due to Paradise’s
tation of Paradise Ingredients (one
year-on-year fruitful yield, Frutco has been
of the world’s largest suppliers of
banana puree), Frutco has expanded its product offering. “We have represented Paradise Ingredients throughout the entirety of our operations,” Deputy General Manager Stefan Fischer explained. “As Paradise has expanded, we have been able to do the same, offering customers two new products.”
A growing portfolio Initially set up as Gerber Ingredients, Frutco’s partner evolved into Paradise Ingredients to reflect the beauty of its home in Costa Rica. The partnership was formed in 1992 and saw Frutco become the European sales partner for Paradise’s
Inside food & drink 109
110 Inside food & drink
FRUTCO
I PROFILE
able to expand its product range using
product: with a focus on the juice sector,
Paradise’s bananas.
the company now offers coconut water
“We now offer frozen, peeled whole
to its customers. This product can be
bananas, which are sourced directly
bought on its own or in a blend with other
from Paradise Ingredients,” said
tropical fruit juices.
Mr Fischer. “These are used mainly
These new additions are joining a com-
by the bakery and dairy industries.”
plete range of tropical fruit products, from
Inspired to extend its capabilities, Frutco also recently introduced another new
mango puree to guava concentrate. Frutco even offers a sourcing service for the more unique flavours that it does not stock. Whether a customer is in the market for yuzu juice or dragon fruit puree, the company works in collaboration with its longstanding international network to find the perfect batch.
All natural With expertise in exotic fruit purees, concentrates and juices, it is safe to say Frutco was destined for the baby food market.
112 Inside food & drink
“As choices become more complex and spending patterns emerge, Frutco is proactive in adapting to shifting demands,”
ping into the baby food market, we were able to provide this quality.” Frutco offers pineapple and banana
Mr Fischer explained. “Both the organic
baby food which comes in either puree or
market and the baby food segment are
juice form. The fruit used in these products
growing in popularity, and we have been
is monitored to meet the baby food safety
quick to utilise our knowledge to answer
guidelines in both Europe and the USA.
that call.
Organic versions of these products can
“According to a recent study, banana
also be purchased from the company.
puree turnover is increasing at an annual
To possess the organic label, Frutco
global rate of 8.9 per cent. This is driven
collaborates with select organic develop-
by the growing middle class – particularly
ment projects, which often work with
in South America and Asia – who have
small-scale farmers and benefit local
more disposable income and, therefore,
communities through the generation
want higher quality baby foods. By step-
of stable income.
Inside food & drink 113
FRUTCO
I PROFILE
Market expansion
rely on them to deliver produce that is high
Over the years, Frutco has developed a
in quality and complies with international
reliable and high-quality supply chain of
standards of delivered goods.
producers, which helps the company meet the demands of these new markets. “We have been able to work with some
“Our partnerships with producers have demonstrated how we can rise to the challenge of shifting trends. Now, more than
producers for years and have built up
ever, customers are looking for long-term
trusting and transparent relationships that
contracts with stable prices. They also want
allow us to negotiate favourable condi-
to be able to order additional quantities that
tions for our customers,” Mr Fischer said.
need to be available from our warehouse
“For our producers, it is very important to
at short notice. We can be relied upon to
have a reliable partner, and we are proud
deliver that quick turnaround, whilst main-
to live up to that label. In return, we can
taining the quality we are renowned for.”
114 Inside food & drink
Although the company is expanding, it is
offers customers the option to buy
keen to do so organically and transparently.
sustainably sourced banana puree.
As a founding member of the Sustainable
As Frutco continues to sow its success,
Juice Covenant, Frutco is working hard
having a company filled with passionate
to ensure it continues to meet growing
employees certainly helps. “Being able to
demand in a responsible manner.
work with food is a special and satisfying
“We encourage all our suppliers to work
job,” Mr Fischer concluded.
n
with the covenant to ensure their produce is sourced, processed and traded sustainably,” Mr Fischer said. “On top of this, we are determined to become 100 per cent sustainable by 2030 and are confident in achieving this. As of the end of 2022, we had successfully reached 78 per cent. When it comes to produce, trust and transparency is expected: both our customers and partners get that from us.” The company is also a member of the Rainforest Alliance. This certificate reinforces its commitment to responsible sourcing, and currently, the company
Inside food & drink 115