Sweden’s minister for agriculture, Sven-Erik Bucht, has visited the Moreorganic Sweden eco shop in Hong Kong, which acts as a ‘shopwindow’ for KRAV-labelled organic products in the Asia market.
Exports of KRAV-labeled goods increased by 19 percent in 2016 and the Asian market is seen as a key to that export success.
On his visit to the Moreorganic Sweden store on May 10, the minister commented: ‘Demand for organic food has increased in both Hong Kong and China in recent years. Therefore, these types of investments are very important as they make it easier for Swedish food producers to find a way into the Asian market. In our food strategy, we foresee further growth for both Swedish food production and a rising export opportunity. That is important for jobs and sustainable growth.”
The interest in food with a rigorous organic certification is high in the wealthy middle class in southeastern Asia. In addition to cooperation with Moreganic Sweden, KRAV will be participating in a pavilion for the third consecutive year at the fast-growing Natural & Organic Products Asia (NOPA) fair.
KRAV says that attendance at the NOPA fair has been a key factor in helping Swedish organic brands become established in the region Almnäs Bruk, for example, has become the first Swedish company authorized to sell products as organic in China. Munkagrodden, which grows KRAV-labelled sprouts, has had a presence in the City Super store in Hong Kong since March 2017, and baby food manufacturer Alex & Phil is listed on the e-commerce company ParkNShop.com.
”It is amazing that we can finally sell our products on the Chinese market. To exhibit at the NOPA exhibition was the start of this trip,” says Thomas Berglund, CEO of Almnäs Bruk.
KRAV sees Asia as a key export market for organic. “The prices of organic food in Southeast Asia’s metropolitan areas are often more than twice as high as in Sweden. Products from Europe enjoy a high level of trust, and Sweden is reputed to be one of the cleanest countries, with companies that can be trusted. Even though the cost of sales is higher, there are smart solutions for shipping and distribution, yet making exports profitable, says Johan Cejie, sales manager at KRAV.