The New Zealand-based marketer reported strong growth in RubyRed™ this year, with sales volumes doubling and exceeding three million trays across core markets including New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States.
The move comes as competition within the global kiwifruit category continues to intensify, with demand increasing for year-round availability across Zespri’s full portfolio, which includes Zespri Green, Zespri SunGold™ and Zespri RubyRed™.
Red kiwifruit typically has a shorter shelf life than green and gold varieties, limiting its commercial window to around eight weeks. Red80 is harvested slightly later than the current Red19 cultivar and offers improved storage performance, allowing both varieties to complement each other and keep RubyRed™ on shelves for a longer period.
Following the initial launch of Red19 in 2019, Zespri RubyRed™ reached commercial scale in 2022 and has since expanded to 13 markets. The variety is characterised by its distinctive red flesh, sweet flavour profile with berry notes and nutritional attributes that differentiate it from SunGold™ and Green kiwifruit.
RELATED NEWS: Zespri reports strong 22.3% growth in SunGold volumes
Red80 was developed through conventional breeding by the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC), a joint venture between Zespri and Plant & Food Research established to accelerate varietal innovation. The programme currently includes 20 kiwifruit, kiwiberry and male varieties in pre-commercial trials.
Growers are expected to gain access to approximately 250 acres of Red80 licences from 2026, alongside an initial allocation for Red19 plantings. Commercial volumes of Red80 are anticipated from 2028, supporting long-term growth of the RubyRed™ category and delivering additional value across the supply chain.
