Exclusive Tim Palmer, Cape Town Del Monte's South African subsidiary is working on a new process which could revolutionise the fruit processing business. In an exclusive interview with The Grocer in South Africa, operations and production director Fernando Lage said what he is working on could give the SA business an advantage of five to 10 years over the rest of the world. The new development is still under wraps but Lage is confident he will be able to unveil it before the end of the year. He hinted that it involved varieties of fruit specific to South Africa and a new approach to existing products and processes. "It will make a big difference. We are doing the trials now and it should be ready by the end of the year. If it is, it could change to a great extent the focus of the deciduous fruit industry in South Africa and catch the rest of the world by surprise. I am 99% sure it will work." He reckoned Del Monte would have a year's advantage against other companies in South Africa. Lage said: "The future is in being part of the next generation of food concepts and products." {{PROVISIONS }}

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