July 17, 2024
Contributing to a healthy lifestyle is a key driver of the ambitious Indian nursery, Nutrifresh. One way they achieve this is by cultivating SN!BS snack vegetables. “Children love the colours and shapes, while retailers are always keen on new products. Rijk Zwaan is my trusted partner for new varieties, high-quality seeds, agronomic help, and marketing connections. The company feels like a close friend,” co-founder and CEO Sanket Mehta says. He is looking forward to visiting the Rijk Zwaan stand again at this year’s Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong.
People drive Nutrifresh forward
The Nutrifresh story is quite remarkable. A decade ago, Sanket and his friend Ganesh Nikam left their white-collar jobs in finance to embark on an agricultural adventure. “We just decided ‘Let’s do it’. Nowadays, we live and breathe agriculture. We currently grow 42 GLOBAL-GAP-certified food crops on 20 hectares, and we will scale up to 100 hectares in 2026. I’m very proud of our inclusive team of 300 employees. People are what really motivate us to grow. Our longer-term dream is to provide employment for 10,000 Indian families.”
Residue-free and consistent products
Leafy greens, bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kale, broccoli and many more crops are grown at the Nutrifresh facility using state-of-the-art techniques such as hydroponics and recirculating drip systems. “Residue-free and consistent products are crucial for our customers, who include Nature’s Basket, Zepto, Tata, Spar and McDonald’s. We use Rijk Zwaan seeds because of their good quality and availability. We also really appreciate their agronomic support and marketing connections,” explains Sanket.
SN!BS supports 200% growth in two years
That collaborative approach was particularly beneficial when introducing Rijk Zwaan’s SN!BS snack vegetables in the Indian market two years ago. “Ajit Kumar put us in touch with the supply chain managers of all the key retailers. Children love the colours and shapes of our snack peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes. And they are our future. In two years, we have grown 200% in produce, and this new product is still gaining popularity. I really believe in SN!BS.”
New crops and connections at Asia Fruit Logistica
India is a growing and fast-developing market, so Sanket is always on the lookout for other innovative crops and varieties. “At Asia Fruit Logistica, I can discover what’s in the pipeline, but I can also gain agronomic knowledge from other large-scale growers. That’s why I try to visit the fair every year. Moreover, I really enjoy connecting with the Rijk Zwaan team from the Netherlands to gain the latest insights. The company feels like a close friend to me. We share the same passion for people and a healthy future.”
Celebrate Rijk Zwaan’s 100 years anniversary at Asia Fruit Logistica
Collaboration with our customers has been essential in enabling Rijk Zwaan to reach the 100-year milestone. We invite you to join us in celebrating this special occasion at Asia Fruit Logistica at Booth 5N14, where we will present resilient solutions as well as inspiring innovations for a shared healthy future. We are looking forward to many more fruitful years of collaboration and growth in the coming century.
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