Costa Rican grower-shipper Kapi Kapi Growers says it has achieved national distribution after launching its brand in North America a little more than three years ago.
Kapi branded pineapples first entered the U.S. market in late 2020. Through the leadership of Kapi Kapi Groweres President Sofia Acon, the brand grabbed the attention of retail buyers, according to a news release, and in December 2020 the first shipments of Kapi pineapples reached the Port of Philadelphia.
Retailers and wholesalers in the Northeast were putting the Kapi brand on store shelves, and by the end of the first quarter of 2021, distribution had taken off, the company said. In less than a year, the Kapi brand was well on its way to becoming a significant supplier in the tropical fruit space, according to the release.
By 2022, Kapi pineapples were primarily delivered up and down the East Coast. By the end of 2023, strategic geographic expansion within the U.S. and Canada had quadrupled year-over-year volume with a mix of retail, club store, processors and foodservice customers from coast to coast, the release said. Building on the success of the pineapple business, Kapi bananas also began to pick up steam in 2023, generating substantial retail interest and positive sales feedback, the company said.
“We’re thrilled with the success the Kapi brand has seen so far, and we have no plans of slowing down,” Acon said in the release. “Since 2020, we’ve steadily fine-tuned our operations from farm to shelf and because of that dedication, Kapi is becoming recognized as a quality brand in North America. Our partners know they can rely on us for consistent quality and reliable service. In alignment with this, our Kapi team has been diligently focused on diversifying and growing our product lineup.”
The brand has also been able to leverage its 30-plus years of dedication to quality excellence and industry-leading sustainable growing practices to serve customers in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, according to the release. Kapi Kapi Growers said it has has earned multiple global certifications and national awards and has multiple farm locations that are certified carbon neutral.
