T&G Global is in talks to sell its fresh produce business in New Zealand, Fiji and the Pacific following a review of operations.
The New Zealand-headquartered group said it is in "advanced discussions to finalise terms" for the operations sitting within T&G Fresh as it seeks to “maximise growth and shareholder value” by focusing on its apple and venture-led fruit businesses.
If successful, the Auckland-based group’s founders, the Turner family, would acquire T&G’s New Zealand fresh produce unit.
Foodservice wholesaler Bidfood would buy the company’s Fijian and Pacific businesses, which are focused on export and wholesale distribution.
Financial terms have not been disclosed.
In a statement, the NZX-listed company said the disposals follow a “comprehensive review to evaluate T&G’s long-term strategy and growth options”.
T&G Global chair Benedikt Mangold said the review “confirmed the attractiveness, scalability and resilience of our Apples and VentureFruit strategies, with intellectual property at the foundation of their competitive advantage”.
Mangold added the businesses on the block are "more mature and less reliant on scalable intellectual property advantage than T&G’s targeted growth platforms”.
If the transactions proceed, T&G would become what chief executive Gareth Edgecombe described to Just Food as “a global Apples and IP-led business, focused on maximising our scalable intellectual property advantage”.
Edgecombe said apples are already the group’s main earnings driver. In 2025, the division generated NZ$1bn ($590m) in revenue, up 22% year on year, accounting for 67% of total group revenue and delivering operating profit of NZ$74.7m.
He said T&G had spent the past eight years building an integrated apple platform spanning protected varieties, orchards and grower partnerships in more than 11 countries, along with an automated post-harvest infrastructure, and global brand and market execution.
Its premium apple brands include Joli and Envy, which are grown in more than 13 countries and sold in over 55 markets. Its Jazz apples are grown in more than 11 countries and sold in more than 50 markets.
Meanwhile, VentureFruit develops and licences premium apple, pear and berry varieties, supporting T&G’s IP-driven and scalable growth model through global partnerships.
The proposed New Zealand sale includes T&G Fresh’s tomato, berry, citrus and stone fruit growing operations, wholesale market network, and its export, prepacking and transport businesses.
The Turner family would also lease from T&G the properties used by those growing units, according to the statement.
Edgecombe confirmed that the group intends to retain its Australian berry operations and, if the sales proceed, move them from T&G Fresh into VentureFruit, where they would align with its global berries strategy.
The deals have not yet been finalised and remain contingent on signed agreements and customary conditions.
T&G said it will disclose the sale price and key terms once the contracts are completed.
Separately, the company said its major shareholder BayWa Global Produce still intends to exit its stake, a plan that emerged late in 2024.
