Capespan's South African topfruit production is set for a major expansion following the acquisition of a pome fruit estate and pack house, in the latest in a long line of developments for the global fresh fruit supplier. 

A release highlighted the Novo pack house's state-of-the-art facilities located in Paarl in the Western Cape, situated close to the pome fruit farmers in the Ceres, Villiersdorp, Piketberg, Grabouw and Boland areas.

It has the capacity to pack 120,000 bins annually.

The other acquisition, Theewaterskloof Estate, is positioned in Villiersdorp and has 300 hectares of export-quality apples, pears and plums under production.

The move complements the 110-hectare pome fruit expansion earmarked for Capespan's other Western Cape farm in Elgin, increasing combined pome fruit production land to more than 630 hectares over the next three years.

Capespan Group managing director Johan Dique said the latest purchases demonstrated the company's global growth strategy, which includes developments in distribution and production.

"Following these acquisitions and current developments, Capespan Group will own and control more than 2,000 hectares in Southern African pome, citrus and grape production, supplying fresh produce to customers spread across the globe," he said.

"Capespan's own production is strategically positioned specifically to enhance our Group's service and product offering to all our third-party growers and our retail customers.

"We enhance and add to our third-party grower product basket through Capespan's own production in order to ensure a sustainable 12 month supply of quality fresh produce."

The latest acquisitions come off the back of an active 2014 when Capespan acquired a 25% stake in Hong Kong and Macau fruit and vegetable distributor Good View Group, as well as a 75% stake in South African logistics operator Aspen, now re-branded as Contour Logistics.

On top of this, the company launched a joint venture in Turkey last year aimed at providing better access to Black Sea, Caspian and Mediterranean markets, and earlier this month it announced the 25% stake acquisition of Germany-based fresh produce distributor vanWylick Fruchtimport.

"Novo pack house entrenches Capespan's access to the downstream value chain which will ensure better service delivery and a more efficient and cost-effective route-to-market for its customers,” Capespan Farms CEO Tonie Fuchs said.

"It enjoys an established customer base and will be operated by Capespan as the first choice packing facility for growers in its service area."

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