Just Avocados Ltd and the NZ Avocado Marketing Ltd grower cooperative have entered into a new supply and marketing partnership.

The partnership arose from a need for improved economies of scale and rationalisation of overheads, plus grower calls for more consolidation, says Just Avocados managing director Andrew Darling.

Under the agreement Just Avocados will perform the exporting function and marketing of the grower group's crop to customer programmes in both Australia and the rest of the world for at least three years.

Andrew says this represents a much needed further consolidation of marketing volume in the avocado industry.

'The industry will benefit from this consolidation both here at home as well as with the orderly placement of fruit in the export market place.

'This arrangement is also complimented by the recent partnership established between Just Avocados and Zeafruit for the distribution and sale of domestic grade fruit to a major retail chain.

'Given NZAML growers' existing alignment with Zeafruit, this further enhances local market value potential in programmes being developed with the highly successful marketer Zeafruit.”

Andrew says the supply and marketing agreement with NZAML growers will result in Just Avocados being responsible for 25 per cent plus of the industry crop.

Just Avocado is also part of the AVANZA brand which also represents Primor Produce and Southern Produce.

Andrew says the new partnership with NZAML reinforces the position of AVANZA.

'Over the next few years disciplined development of new and emerging markets will be critical to successfully managing the projected increases in crop volume.”