Del Monte Corp. has entered a joint venture in China for the sale of fresh-cut fruit products.
The New York-listed company, which traded as Fresh Del Monte Produce until undergoing a corporate name change in June, has inked a partnership with Riverking (Shanghai) Agricultural Technology Development Co.
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In a statement, Riverking was described as a “leading integrated private fruit enterprise”.
Del Monte said the joint venture has been struck through its Hong Kong subsidiary Del Monte Fresh Produce (HK) to take advantage of “China’s rapidly growing fresh-cut fruit market”.
According to Del Monte’s 2025 annual report, Asia accounted for 9% of its total sales last year of $4.32bn. Fresh and “value-added” products generated $2.62bn for the group as a whole and bananas $1.49bn. “Other” products made up the rest.
As the global owner of the Del Monte brand, the company uses local distributors in Asia, with China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea listed as its “principal” markets. It also operates a fresh-cut fruit facility in South Korea.
President and COO Mohammed Abbas said: “This partnership with Riverking marks a significant step into China’s fresh-cut fruit market, giving Del Monte a strong platform to deepen our foothold across Asia and bring consumers quality, convenient fruit options they can trust.”
In January, Fresh Del Monte Produce acquired a clutch of assets in the US from California-based Del Monte Foods under a bankruptcy deal. It took ownership of Del Monte Foods’ vegetable, tomato and refrigerated fruit businesses.
Further afield, Fresh Del Monte Produce acquired a majority share last year in Uganda-based avocado oil supplier Avolio as part of the group’s strategy to venture into “high-value speciality ingredients”.
Shanghai-headquartered Riverking was set up in 2003 and operates a supply chain from cultivation, sourcing, harvesting and distribution.
It has 11 distribution centers across China and also has offices in South America, Australia and New Zealand, North America and Thailand.
Zhang Ming, the founder and chairman of Riverking, said: “This joint venture combines Del Monte’s fresh-cut expertise with Riverking’s local knowledge and distribution network. Together, we are well-positioned to bring Chinese consumers premium, safe, and convenient fresh-cut fruit products.”
