AgroFresh Solutions is set to open an innovation centre in China in partnership with fruit retailer Shenzhen Pagoda Orchard Industrial Development (Pagoda).
The partnership is aimed at meeting specific supply chain requirements of the Chinese market.
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Scheduled to open in the second half of this year, the new centre will be located at a Pagoda distribution centre in Guangdong province.
Both AgroFresh and Pogoda will use the innovation centre to develop solutions that increase the freshness and quality of fresh produce and work together to conduct research, identify fruit quality problems and offer insights and solutions to promote freshness.
AgroFresh CEO Jordi Ferre said: “As a company firmly rooted in research and science, the new innovation centre in China enables us to apply our know-how to predict optimal fruit conditions and reduce waste.
“Pagoda’s dedication to overall fruit quality, intimate knowledge of the local consumer and complex supply chain make the company a perfect partner to help us better develop and deliver localised freshness-preservation solutions.”
The partnership will help AgroFresh expand into new and growing market through Pagoda and offer solutions that enhance the quality of fruits.
AgroFresh will leverage the insights gathered from the partnership to enhance its retail and e-commerce strategy for China, as well as extend it to other regions.
Pagoda president Huiyong Yu said: “Working together, we’ll be able to enhance the customer experience, reduce food waste and make healthy diets more accessible.
“Cooperating with AgroFresh will also arm us with more fruit intelligence and strengthen our position as a leading quality fruit provider.”
Pagoda currently operates 3,000 franchise stores in over 40 cities across the country offering fruits, dried fruits and fruit juice products.
