Sun World wins Marketing Excellence Award, unveils new grape varieties

USA – Sun World International has been recognized with the 36th Annual Marketing Excellence Award for its collaboration with Giant Eagle Inc. on the AUTUMNCRISP table grapes campaign.

The campaign, which garnered over 21 million impressions and strong consumer engagement, showcases Sun World’s effective marketing strategies in the fresh produce industry.

“This is just the beginning of our AUTUMNCRISP campaign journey. With more opportunities lined up with retailers, we’re not slowing down,” said Elena Hernandez, Director of Global Marketing Insights at Sun World.

“Our momentum has been incredible, and now is the perfect time to continue driving awareness and promoting AUTUMNCRISP to consumers around the globe.”

The company expressed gratitude to its dedicated team and partners for their efforts in making the campaign a success.

As Sun World continues its marketing efforts, the company is focused on building strong partnerships in the future.

New grape varieties introduced

On August 22, 2024, Sun World also unveiled two new grape brands, Epic Crisp and Applause, during its annual Mid- to Late-Season Table Grape Field Day at the company’s Centre for Innovation in Wasco, California.

The event attracted over 250 attendees, including licensed growers, marketers, importers, retailers, and media partners from around the world.

“Sun World’s Field Day was a milestone in the company’s history as we introduced the Epic Crisp and Applause brands. It was a privilege to showcase these brands to over 250 of our partners from around the globe,” said Jen Sanchez, vice president of marketing at Sun World.

The event provided attendees with a firsthand look at Sun World’s innovative approach to table grape cultivation.

The new brands feature a variety of red, green, and black seedless grapes with distinct shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors, showcasing Sun World’s commitment to developing consumer-inspired and grower-friendly varieties.

Attendees of the Field Day had the opportunity to observe these new varieties in a commercial vineyard setting, which provided valuable insights for future planting decisions.

The event also featured presentations from ag-tech and industry partners, including a demonstration of Tortuga’s automated robots harvesting grapes.

Mecia Petersen, market development and communications manager at the South Africa Table Grape Industry (Sati), shared her thoughts on the event: “It was an honor to be part of the first audience to have exposure to the Epic Crisp and Applause branding at Sun World’s Field Day. Exciting developments are happening in the table grape space, and we look forward to seeing what’s next.”

Expansion into Africa

This news follows Sun World’s acquisition of Biogold Group, a prominent South Africa-based fruit variety rights manager known for its expertise in citrus genetics.

This acquisition highlights Sun World’s global ambitions and strengthens its position in the fresh produce industry.

“Sun World is known for our careful commercialization process. Similarly, we are deliberate with our acquisitions,” said David Marguleas, CEO of Sun World. “This alliance is a powerful boost for both companies and represents a seamless integration of our strengths.”

The acquisition of Biogold Group, known as Citrogold in South Africa, will allow Sun World to expand its reach in Africa and further enhance its global presence in the fresh produce sector.

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