Südtirol apples, 12 thousand tons to Russia

The local apple production is not sufficient to meet the national demand so today Russia is one of the biggest importers with over 800,000 tons of apples coming from abroad every year”. This is the profile sketched by Gerhard Dichgans, director of the VOG Consortium, back from World Food Moscow exhibition held on 23-26 September.

After three days of meetings with importers and buyers of large supermarket chains, the final impressions are positive. “A recent survey carried out by AC-Nielsen highlighted that more than half of the Russians eat fruit at least once a day, for 50 kilos total every year, being apples the favourite variety - Dichgans explains -. In five years the volumes of imported fruit have doubled”.

In the town with over one million people retail chains are prevailing over street markets and traditional distributors, which at the moment have the largest market share; so in the future it will be decisive being able to collaborate with the big chains”, Dichgans points out.

The VOG Consortium exports to Russia around 10-12,000 tons of apples: “We have consolidated partners with which we keep on working since 1995”, VOG director declared.

VOG exhibited to World Food Moscow within the Macfrut International collective stand, joining various leading Italian companies in the fruit & vegetable sector.