Leading the way with premium apples and pears: BIG interview with Marc Peyres, Blue Whale SAS  

Blue Whale SAS, one of France's leading fruit producers, has been in operation since 1950, exporting apples, pears, kiwis, plums, and grapes to 74 countries worldwide. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, the company is known for its premium apple and pear varieties and commitment to developing new markets, including Asia and the UK. In a recent interview with Fructidor, Marc Peyres, Blue Whale's Commercial Director, discusses this year’s harvest, new market strategies, and future projects.  

Fructidor: Marc, do you already have a forecast for how the new crop will compare to last year?  

Marc Peyres: I can share some insights. This year, we’re having a good harvest, though it's still ongoing. We began in mid-July with Gala FKD, and the harvest will conclude in early December with the Joya variety. In total, we expect about 270,000 tons of apples, 8,000 tons of pears, and 600 tons of kiwis. We expect a good harvest in a European context that contrasts sharply with one of the smallest crops in the last 10 years, mainly due to frost events, particularly in Eastern and Northern Europe. This has given us an advantage this season. We’ll provide detailed KPIs at Fruit Logistica in February. 

Fructidor: Are there new markets you plan to develop in the coming year, or will you focus on stability in existing ones? 

Marc Peyres: We currently export to 74 countries, so rather than entering new markets, we’re focusing on strengthening existing ones. Our efforts are concentrated on expanding our presence in Asia, where varieties like Fondue, G7, Candine®, and Kissabel® perform well, particularly in Vietnam, Thailand, and China. We are also very active in the UK and aim to grow our footprint in France. Although we excel in exports, we also aim to improve our position in the local market. 

Our flagship variety, Pink Lady®, remains highly popular in France and across Europe, with nearly 10% of sales now outside Europe. Following its success in Europe, Pink Lady® is expanding globally. 

Fructidor: Are there any new facilities or innovations in the pipeline? 

Marc Peyres: Last year, we inaugurated a new kiwi packhouse in southwest France, bringing our total to two kiwi packhouses. We are committed to becoming a leading kiwi supplier in Europe. Additionally, we continue to advance our five-year R&D project, "Régénération Fruit," which focuses on developing innovative cultivation techniques. While we have introduced several new fruit varieties in recent years, our orchards are now mature, enabling us to bring new species, such as pears, to market with brands like Qtee®, Fred®, and Angys®. 

Fructidor: What advice would you give to other businesses aiming to enhance their production and profitability? 

Marc Peyres A key part of our strategy is crop diversification. In the past, many of our producers focused exclusively on apples. Now, we encourage them to grow multiple species, making us a more versatile partner for our clients. Another priority is developing premium apple brands. Although we offer 30 apple varieties, branded ones deliver higher quality and better prices for both consumers and growers. Our main focus is renewing our offerings with higher-quality products, which is a long process but essential for bringing value back from the market to our growers. 

Connect with Blue Whale SAS by sending an email to support5@fructidor.com. Explore premium apples and pears that will delight your customers.

photo: courtesy of Blue Whale SAS.