a producer BanaBay is making its first appearance at Fruit Logistica to expand the global market place for its premium quality brand. Since its launch in the UK just under a year ago, BanaBay has already achieved extraordinary growth and is currently shipping over a million bananas a week to countries including Malta, Egypt, New Zealand and China, with trials scheduled to start soon in South America and the US.To cope with this rapid growth, MD Mark O'Sullivan says, the family business in Ecuador from which they source all of their bananas, has purchased a new plantation. "This ensures we can continue with our direct sales," O'Sullivan explains. "We have strong partners throughout the supply chain, which is making our expansion seamless, there will always be day to day challenges but we have a good team to manage them."
On the subject of Black Sigatoka disease, O'Sullivan says it is not a problem in BanaBay's plantations. "We carry out many strict procedures to stop the disease invading our plantations. Careful irrigation and strict cleaning as well as use of chemicals, which are alternated for maximum effect"
BanaBay has introduced a few new products recently, such as organic and FairTrade bananas, pineapples and plantains. The company is also looking at new markets with a container already on the way to Argentina and a team in place in the US to pave the way for the first container, which O'Sullivan expects will be on its way in 4-5 weeks.
O'Sullivan puts BanaBay’s extraordinary success down to excellent product quality from experienced growers combined with outstanding customer service.
At Fruit Logistica BanaBay will showcase its range of Global G.A.P. accredited, ethically produced bananas, including Organic Fairtrade, Fairtrade, Organic and conventional bananas. The company will also take the opportunity to showcase a brand new product offering for 2014 at Fruit Logistica – namely premium quality Ecuadorian plantains.
Mark O’Sullivan says, “We have been very ambitious with the product because when we introduce BanaBay bananas to a new market, they perform well on taste and quality, and this has enabled us to actively build up an extensive portfolio of customers in a relatively short space of time. Now we are keen to meet more potential customers at Fruit Logistica. The growing range we offer, combined with the unique relationship we enjoy with our Ecuadorian growers, means that we can offer a flexible package which ensures consistent quality and continuity of supply at competitive prices.”
