The company Fresh Delight UK Ltd. is a subsidiary of Unispice, in Guatemala, and is mainly devoted to the production and export of sweet peas and beans to Europe, both to the British Isles and the continent and to North America. "Our main mission is to have local presence and provide assistance to our customers, while increasing our volumes and boosting our customer base, of course," states Javier Desana, of Fresh Delight.
The company is booming and expects the market to soon become aware of Guatemala's capacity to become a complement, rather than a replacement, to the African production. "Guatemalan products are more expensive than those from Kenya, but Africa's main problem is unreliability, so some companies are willing to pay a little more to guarantee more regular deliveries and quality," explains Desana.
The company has more than 200 hectares of certified plantations that are ready to meet the needs of its customers. "Once we sign any deals, we assign specific zones for each of them." The volumes shipped to the U.S. and Canada are much greater than those going to Europe, but Desana refuses to say it is a more important market. "All markets are important, as long as they contribute to the company's growth and provide value to the chain. We do not give priority to the largest. We have 5,000 employees who depend on our decisions, so bigger does not necessarily mean better," acknowledges Desana.
The company has local presence in other markets, besides Europe. Unispice Chile imports and exports products to/from Chile and Central America, and it is also present in the United States.
The current pea season kicked off in December. "We didn't have an easy start because of weather problems in Guatemala, but we are currently in full production." Desana expects the production volumes to start falling from April.
Moreover, beans are grown all year round. "It's a product that has been exported to the United States and Canada for more than 20 years. We learned a lot about packaging and the product itself, and now, with our new export methods, we'll be able to offer those wishing to invest in this project an alternative to Africa," affirms Desana, referring to the maritime transport routes tested by the company to replace air shipments, which will help reduce the price of their products.
"We are truly excited. We have carried out several tests and signed some agreements, and there are already many customers willing to invest in this new project. Our vision and our motto is 'always growing,' and those who work with us also grow with us every year. Everyone wins in these business relationships," concludes Desana.
