BY EMMA SLAWINSKI
AGRICULTURAL group and fresh pro-duce marketer, Yasheng, has revealed ambitions to expand its business interna-tionally, as it announced healthy growth in sales and profit for the full year to 31 December 2010.
Yasheng Group, which is incorporated in California but conducts farming
operations in China north-western Gansu province and draws around 34% of revenues from sales of fruits, saw net sales rise to USD849.45 million, 15% higher than in 2009.
This was attributed largely to improved pricing for agricultural products, particularly fruit, potatoes and cotton, and greater demand for products in the domestic market. Yasheng also credited expanded distribution channels for the significant growth in revenues.
Full-year profit in 2010 was up 26%, to USD105.85 million, while net income grew by 25% to USD99.18 million.
In a statement, Yasheng said that as well as growing its domestic market position it would target international business development.
One of our long-term objectives is to generate revenue and build assets and longterm distribution channels outside of China through mergers and acquisition? the company said, though it would not be drawn on the figures set aside for such expansion.
Yasheng added that,domestically, it would continue to transform collective family farms to industrial scale operations, as well as expanding the product line with-product ncluding fruit nutritional beverages and frozen and
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fresh vegetables.Currently Yasheng primarily provides fresh fruits directly for food processors and distributors,president, Meiping Wu,told FOODNEWS. In terms of processed products, Yasheng makes dried and candied fruits, marmalades, fruit juices and tomato ketchup.
In fresh fruits, the company has been able to capitalise in a surge in domestic demand, particularly for high-end produce.
The demand in fresh fruits (particularly Green Food) increases a lot as
people income increases year by year, which leads to the fruit prices soaring,?Wu said. (Green Food is an agricultural products standard, co-ordinated by the Chinese agriculture ministry, which aims to enhance food quality and safety, and promote consumer health and sustainable development).
The expect a great potential in this market as people life standard continues rising. Moreover, it is becoming more and more popular that Chinese people buy wellpacked green fruits as seasonal and holiday gifts. We have [an] advanced package line and grab a share of the luxury fruit gift market u told FOODNEWS.
Yasheng is well positioned to benefit from burgeoning middle-class demand in China, as it already has a national marketing network covering 16 provinces and 100 cities.
yaseng's of 2010 we have over 200 distributors and approximately 30 direct clients who are leading conglomerates in their industry in China and even worldwide, including KFC, McDonald, Tsingtao Beer,added.
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| Hot new contract for Barry Callebaut |
BARRY Callebaut has announced a new partnership with US drink company Green Mountain.
The drinks company produces coffee as well as hot cocoa and tea in K-Cup portion packs for Keurig Single-Cup Brewers.Callebaut will now be responsible for the chocolate in the hot cocoa drinks, which accounts for around 15% of the Green Mountain drinks.
Victor Baili, chief financial
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director for Barry Callebaut,told a press conference that he could not disclose volumes or terms of the deal. However, he pointed out that it was not in the same league as its partnership with Kraft, saying
we are not talking 100 000tonnes?stating it was smaller volumes but was a great growth company.
it is a speciality product, high-end margin, long duration and on important margins.?/div>
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