INDIA The largest bottler in the country Varun Beverages has partnered with PepsiCo India to sell and distribute the Tropicana range of juices along with Gatorade and Quaker Dairy products in north and east India. With the two regions making up 80% of the juice market in India Varun’s coverage will help PepsiCo reach more customers. The Times of India reported a PepsiCo spokesperson as saying: “The urban and rural markets are growing faster than metros for juices. In the north and east, we could only serve 90,000 outlets. The agreement with VBL (Varun) will double our distribution reach.”
Ravi Jaipuria, Varun Beverages chairman commented: “I am very pleased to share that Varun Beverages Limited and PepsiCo India have decided to enter into a strategic partnership for selling and distribution of the larger Tropicana portfolio that includes Tropicana Juices (100%, Delight, Essentials), along with Gatorade and Quaker Value-Added Dairy in territories across north and east India” He added: “With VBL already holding manufacturing, sales and distribution rights for Tropicana Slice and Tropicana Frutz in north and east, we are confident that the addition of this portfolio will help expand the franchise for brand Tropicana in these territories.”
Source: FoodBev
Fundecitrus forecast on Brazil’s 2017/18 crop
The 2017/18 orange production forecast for Brazil’s São Paulo and west-southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt is 364.47 million boxes (40.8 kg), says a new report by Fundecitrus (including cooperation of Markestrat, FEA-RP/USP and FCAV/Unesp1).
Of this figure, 265 million boxes, or 73% of the projected crop, will come from the initial bloom, which should lead to healthy juice yields.
Bearing trees total 174.78 million and the average number of fruit per tree in as of April 2017, not considering the droppage to occur during the season, was measured at 753 fruits per tree.
The average number of fruit per tree may vary by 14 fruit more or less, which corresponds to 1.9% of the average number of fruit per tree obtained upon stripping.
Fruit droppage
The average droppage rate is estimated at 18.5%. The forecast rate is greater than those assessed in the previous seasons and is related to a greater production volume expected for this season, which might cause an extended harvesting period, thus increasing fruit exposure to pests and diseases with potential to cause fruit droppage.
Fruit size
The average size is estimated at 265 fruits per box of 40.8 kg. Smaller fruit are expected for this season due to the greater quantity of oranges on the trees which limit their growth potential. In addition, according to Somar Meteorologia, the expectation for the second half of 2017 is for a milder El Niño.
USDA forecast on Florida’s 2016/17 crop
The USDA’s May forecast on Florida’s current crop is up 1.00 million boxes to
68.0 million boxes. The total includes 33.0 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 35.0 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
The projection for frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yields is lowered to 1.41 gallons per box (42 brix).
