Eighteen of New Zealand’s most respected food and beverage brands will jointly sell premium products to China’s growing league of high-end consumers following a landmark partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba.
The brands have joined forces to create New Zealand Food Basket Ltd which in April launched Alibaba’s first Country Flagship Store on the Tmall Fresh e-commerce platform. Fiordland Lobster is a foundation member.
Andrew Robinson, NZ Consul-General Shanghai and the Tmall Fresh General Manager display a Wild Legend lobster for Chinese media. — NZ Food Basket
An initial group of nine market-ready brands – Wild Legend, Pic’s, Babich Wines, Vogel’s, Rockit Apple, Future Cuisine, Pāmu, Zealong Tea Estate, and Oha Honey – began sales through the New Zealand Country Flagship Store on Tmall Fresh from April 18.
The companies that have come together to open a Country Flagship Store on Tmall Fresh. — New Zealand Food Basket
A further nine brands – Zespri, Sanford, Kāpiti, Lewis Road Creamery, Sealord, Pure South (Alliance Group), Shott Beverages, New Zealand Wild Catch, and Cherri – are due to begin sales in June.
Dry ice is the fashion this year for presenting high end seafood in China. — NZ Food Basket
Joe Zhong, our Chief China Representative (with tie) works the crowd at NZ Central in Shanghai. — NZ Food Basket
“This agreement creates a single doorway that directly connects us to affluent Chinese consumers. It will significantly improve our reach and shorten the supply chain in a way that each brand simply couldn’t achieve alone,” said Nicola O’Rourke, Chairperson of New Zealand Food Basket Ltd.
She said Alibaba had committed to partnering to market and promote the New Zealand Country Flagship Store, providing special access for 200 products in the New Zealand Food Basket to participate in targeted promotions and campaigns. The partnership will also allow New Zealand Food Basket brands to explore other opportunities via Alibaba’s New Retail sales channels, such as the Hema stores that already carry Wild Legend lobsters.
Chef Reggie Li loves working with our lobsters – he’s better than anyone at showing them off too. — NZ Food Basket
“It’s no secret that even big, successful New Zealand companies can struggle to get brand recognition on Chinese e-commerce platforms,” said Lewis Road Creamery Founder Peter Cullinane. “A collective approach, with Alibaba’s backing, is a huge opportunity.”
“It’s an outstanding group of Kiwi food brands,” said Pic Picot, founder of Pic’s Peanut Butter. “This will help all of us build a network that’s easy to use.”
An individual lobster pack, for home delivery when ordered online. — Joe Zhong
Uniting the companies under a common New Zealand brand story, with support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and a unique Fernmark license, will build trust among Chinese consumers who prioritise food safety and quality.
Maggie Zhou, Alibaba Group’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, said, “as Chinese consumers’ demand for high-quality imported produce continues to grow, New Zealand producers have a unique opportunity to leverage the country’s strong country brand to market their produce. Alibaba is delighted to see New Zealand leading the way with this innovative initiative in partnership with our marketplaces.”