Promoting a healthy life style is the primary goal for the devout Indian nursery Nutrifresh. One method they use to achieve this is through the cultivation of SN!BS snacks. “Children enjoy the vibrant colors and shapes. Retailers constantly seek out innovative merchandise. Rijk Zwaan is my preferred source for the latest kinds, top-quality seeds advice on agronomic issues, as well as for contacts in the marketing field. It’s like having family,” the co-founder of Rijk Zwaan and its CEO Sanket Mehta says. The company is excited about going to the Rijk Zwaan stand at next year’s Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong.

Sanket Mehta and Ganesh Nikam

People drive Nutrifresh forward

The Nutrifresh tale is very impressive. Ten years ago, Sanket and his friend Ganesh Nikam left their high-paying job in finance and embarked on a farming adventure. “We have just figured out ‘Let’s go for this’. Today, we are awestruck by agriculture. Our current production includes 42 GLOBAL GAP-certified foodstuffs on 20 acres in the near future, and will expand up to 100 acres in 2026. We are extremely proud of our diverse team of 300 people. They are the ones who inspire us to expand. The long-term goal is to offer employment to 10000 Indian family members,” says Mehta.

Reusable and stable product

Bell peppers, leafy greens and cucumbers. Cherry tomatoes, broccoli, kale and a myriad of other crops are cultivated at the Nutrifresh facility that employs state of the art methods like hydroponics as well as the recirculating drip system. “Residue-free and consistent ” products are essential for our clients including Nature’s Basket, Zepto, Tata, Spar and McDonald’s. We make use of Rijk Zwaan seeds due to their quality and quantity. We really value their support in agronomy as well as their marketing relationships,” explains Mehta.

S!BS will support 200% growth within two years

The collaborative method was great for the launch of Rijk Zwaan’s SN!BS snacks in the Indian market in the year 2000. “Ajit Kumar got us into contact with the management of the supply chain at every major retailer. Kids love the colors and shapes of our snacks tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. These are the ones we will be using in the near future. Within two years, we’ve seen a 200% increase in the production of our products, and this brand new product continues to gain recognition. I truly believe it is SN!BS,” declares Mehta.

New crop and connections

India is an expanding and quickly developing market. Mehta is constantly looking for new inventive crops and varieties. “At Asia Fruit Logistica, I am able to discover the latest developments in the pipeline. I also learn information on agronomic practices from large-scale cultivators. This is why I make an effort to attend the show every year. Additionally, I enjoy meeting my fellow members of the Rijk Zwaan team from the Netherlands for the most up-to-date information. It’s like having my best friend. We have the same love for the people we serve and an optimistic future.”

Rijk Zwaan’s will be celebrating its 100th anniversary during Asia Fruit Logistica. You can visit them on booth 5N14.

More details:

Rijk Zwaan

www.rijkzwaan.com/100years