Fresh-Cut Fruit Del Monte and Riverking Group Form Joint Venture to Expand Business in China
Del Monte Corporation (NYSE: DMC), a global producer, distributor and marketer of fresh and shelf-stable produce, has announced a new strategic partnership aimed at expanding its presence in China’s fast-growing fresh-cut fruit market.
Through its subsidiary, Del Monte Fresh Produce (HK) Ltd., the company has entered into a joint venture with Riverking (Shanghai) Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd., an integrated private fruit enterprise with established sourcing, distribution and customer networks in China. The collaboration is designed to combine the international brand strength and fresh-cut expertise of Del Monte with Riverking’s extensive understanding of the Chinese market.
The partnership represents an important step in Del Monte’s broader strategy to strengthen its position across Asia while responding to changing consumer preferences for convenient, high-quality and safe fresh produce.
Combining Global Expertise With Local Market Knowledge
The joint venture brings together complementary capabilities from both companies. Del Monte contributes its globally recognized brand, experience in fresh-cut fruit, differentiated packaging solutions and food-handling technologies. Riverking, meanwhile, provides local sourcing capabilities, established distribution infrastructure and relationships with customers throughout China.
By combining these strengths, the companies intend to create a strong platform for developing and distributing branded fresh-cut fruit products specifically suited to Chinese consumers.
Fresh-cut fruit has become increasingly attractive to consumers seeking convenient alternatives to whole fruit. Products that are washed, peeled, sliced, portioned or packaged for immediate consumption can save preparation time while making fruit easier to incorporate into busy lifestyles.
The joint venture is expected to focus on delivering premium fresh-cut fruit products that emphasize quality, safety, convenience and consistent presentation.
China’s Fresh-Cut Fruit Market Offers Significant Growth Potential
The partnership comes as demand for fresh-cut produce continues to expand across Asia. According to DataIntelo’s 2026 Fresh-cut Produce Market report, Asia is the fastest-growing region in the global fresh-cut produce market.
China is expected to represent approximately 45% of Asia’s fresh-cut produce market by 2034, highlighting the scale of the opportunity available to companies with strong local capabilities and established supply chains.
Several consumer trends are supporting the growth of the category. Urbanization, changing lifestyles, greater demand for convenience and increasing interest in healthier food choices are encouraging consumers to seek ready-to-eat and easy-to-prepare fresh produce.
Fresh-cut fruit can address these needs by providing consumers with portioned products that require little or no preparation. For retailers, foodservice operators and other customers, packaged fresh-cut fruit can also offer opportunities to develop new product formats and merchandising concepts.
The Del Monte-Riverking joint venture is therefore positioned to participate in a market where convenience and quality are becoming increasingly important purchasing considerations.
Del Monte Strengthens Its Asian Presence
For Del Monte, the agreement provides an opportunity to deepen its footprint in one of the world’s largest consumer markets while building on its existing fresh-produce capabilities.
Mohammed Abbas, President and COO of Del Monte Corporation, said the partnership with Riverking represents a significant move into China’s fresh-cut fruit segment. He emphasized that the collaboration provides Del Monte with a platform to strengthen its position across Asia while offering consumers convenient fruit products they can trust.
The company’s vertically integrated business model and experience across fresh and shelf-stable produce provide a foundation for the expansion. Its expertise in packaging and fresh-cut processing can also help the joint venture develop products designed to meet the needs of modern retail and consumer environments.
The collaboration reflects the increasing importance of localized strategies in global food markets. While international brands can provide technology, product expertise and brand recognition, local partners can offer critical knowledge of consumer preferences, supply networks, distribution channels and market conditions.
Riverking Brings Local Sourcing and Distribution Capabilities
Riverking Group brings significant local experience to the partnership. As an integrated fruit enterprise, the company has developed sourcing and distribution capabilities that can help connect the joint venture with suppliers, retailers and other customers across China.
Mr. Zhang Ming, Founder and Chairman of Riverking Group, welcomed the partnership with Del Monte and highlighted the complementary strengths of the two organizations.
According to Zhang, Del Monte’s long-standing reputation for quality and trust, combined with Riverking’s local knowledge and distribution network, creates a strong foundation for developing premium fresh-cut fruit products.
The partnership is expected to leverage these capabilities to provide Chinese consumers with products that meet high standards for safety, quality and convenience.
Partnership Announced at Asia Fruit Logistica
The joint venture was announced during Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong, one of the region’s prominent events for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
The announcement brought together senior representatives from both companies, including Mohammed Abbas and Riverking Group Founder Zhang Ming, who met to formally mark the partnership.
The timing of the announcement underscores the strategic importance of the Asian fresh-produce market. Asia Fruit Logistica provides a platform for producers, distributors, retailers, technology providers and other industry participants to connect and explore opportunities across the region.
For Del Monte and Riverking, the event provided an opportunity to introduce their collaboration to an international audience and highlight their plans for the Chinese fresh-cut fruit segment.
Focus on Premium, Safe and Convenient Products
At the center of the joint venture’s strategy is the goal of delivering branded fresh-cut fruit that combines convenience with premium quality.
Food safety will be particularly important in the fresh-cut category because processing introduces additional requirements for handling, preparation, packaging and distribution. Consistent quality throughout the supply chain will therefore be critical to building consumer confidence and establishing long-term demand.
Del Monte’s experience in fresh-cut fruit and Riverking’s local operational capabilities are expected to support these objectives. The companies plan to use their combined expertise to create products that are convenient for consumers while maintaining high standards of freshness and safety.
Differentiated packaging will also play an important role. Packaging can help protect fresh-cut fruit during transportation and storage while providing consumers with information about the product and its quality attributes. Attractive and practical packaging can also help products stand out in increasingly competitive retail environments.
Building a Long-Term Presence in China
The joint venture represents more than an expansion into a new product category for Del Monte. It also reflects the company’s intention to build a stronger and more localized presence in Asia’s fresh-produce sector.
As consumer expectations continue to evolve, the demand for convenient fruit products is likely to create opportunities for companies capable of combining reliable supply chains, strong food-safety practices, attractive packaging and trusted brands.
The partnership with Riverking gives Del Monte access to local market capabilities while allowing Riverking to draw on Del Monte’s global experience and fresh-cut expertise.
Together, the companies aim to establish a strong position in China’s fresh-cut fruit market and develop products that respond to the needs of modern consumers.
With China expected to remain a major contributor to Asia’s fresh-cut produce growth, the new venture could provide both companies with an important platform for future expansion. By combining Del Monte’s international reputation and technology with Riverking’s local sourcing, distribution and customer relationships, the partnership is positioned to pursue opportunities in one of the region’s most promising fresh-produce segments.
Ultimately, Del Monte and Riverking intend to make premium, safe, convenient and branded fresh-cut fruit more accessible to Chinese consumers while creating a foundation for continued growth in the country and across the wider Asian market.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
