The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLincoln, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative
- Legal name
- New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative Ltd
- Website
- https://nzblackcurrants.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fruit Ingredients
- NAICS
- Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing (311411), Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423)
- SIC
- Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Frozen Fruit & Vegetable Processing (IQF, Frozen Blends) (AFAKAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dried & Dehydrated Fruit & Vegetables (Freeze-Dried, Air-Dried, Powders) (AFAKAFAE), Natural Colorants (Plant/Algae/Microbial Extracts: Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll, Spirulina) (AFAJAEAA)
Keywords
Where The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincoln
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Bulk Ingredient Sales: The cooperative aggregates blackcurrants from member farmers and processes them into industrial ingredient formats — concentrate (Brix65°), frozen IQF, puree, straight juice, and powder — which are sold in bulk to food and beverage manufacturers, food service operators (restaurants, bakeries), and health product companies globally. Revenue is generated through product sales with no per-unit pricing publicly disclosed.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative aggregates blackcurrants from its member farmers in New Zealand and processes them into bulk ingredient formats — concentrate (BRIX65°), individually quick frozen (IQF) whole fruit, puree, straight juice, and powder — for sale to global food and beverage manufacturers, food service operators, and sports nutrition brands. Its products are positioned as premium functional ingredients on the basis of the uniquely high anthocyanin profile of New Zealand-grown blackcurrants.
Product overview
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative offers a portfolio of bulk ingredient products derived from New Zealand-grown blackcurrants. The product line consists of five primary processed forms—Concentrate (BRIX65°), Frozen (IQF), Puree, Juice, and Powder—along with three main cultivated varieties (Ben Ard, Ben Lomond, Magnus). The company supplies these ingredients to global food and beverage manufacturers, with significant market penetration in Japan where products are used by companies including Jintan (for functional foods), Suntory, Asahi Beverages, Kagome, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Ito En, and Meiji. The cooperative positions New Zealand blackcurrants as a premium functional ingredient due to their uniquely high anthocyanin content compared to other global blackcurrant sources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blackcurrant Concentrate (BRIX65°)
Quantifiable outcome
- 22% increase in peripheral blood flow at rest after single dose of 0.8 mg blackcurrant anthocyanins/kg body weight
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- University of Otago / David GrimmettminorDavid Grimmett, Biomedical Business Manager at the University of Otago, presented on NZ blackcurrant health benefits at the Japan-New Zealand Business Council conference in Kashiwa, Chiba in September 2019, discussing anthocyanin profiles, anti-aging, skin health, cognitive function, blood flow, gut health, and sports performance benefits.
- New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research (PFR)coreThe cooperative's primary research partner is the New Zealand government research institution Plant & Food Research. Over more than a decade, PFR has conducted extensive research demonstrating that NZ blackcurrants are among the best sports nutrition superfoods. PFR research has identified the unique anthocyanin profile, Nrf2 activation mechanism, and health benefits including improved sports performance, recovery, immune function, and cognitive benefits. Unpublished data from PFR confirms NZ blackcurrants contain the highest anthocyanin levels among commercial blackcurrant varieties globally.
- Jack Goodhue (NZ All Blacks Rugby)coreJack Goodhue, a member of the New Zealand national rugby team (All Blacks), serves as the NZ Blackcurrant brand ambassador in Japan since April 2019. Goodhue, who was introduced to NZ blackcurrants by his team's nutritionist years earlier, promotes the health benefits of NZ blackcurrants to Japanese consumers, leveraging the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan as a key marketing moment.
- Northumbria University (UK)minorNorthumbria University collaborated with Plant & Food Research on research demonstrating that NZ blackcurrants are especially effective at inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO) and positively modulating behavior and attitude, supporting exercise motivation benefits.
- Liverpool John Moores University (UK)minorConducted a clinical trial published in the European Journal of Nutrition (July 2020) showing that regular consumption of NZ blackcurrant anthocyanins improves insulin sensitivity, lowers post-meal blood sugar, and reduces C-reactive protein (inflammation marker) in overweight subjects after 8 days.
- University of Gloucestershire (UK)minorConducted a clinical trial on rock climbers showing improved oxygen delivery to forearm muscles during exercise after 7 days of NZ blackcurrant anthocyanin supplementation, demonstrating enhanced nutrient delivery to muscles during exercise.
- Fukushima Medical University (Japan)minorProfessor Suzuki from Fukushima Medical University conducted research demonstrating that blackcurrant components inhibit virus receptor binding and inactivate more than 98% of influenza A and B viruses, indicating broad anti-viral effects of blackcurrants.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Iprona: Iprona is an Italian-based specialist in polyphenol-rich fruit ingredients, particularly European blackcurrant, elderberry, and bilberry extracts. Most direct competitor in blackcurrant ingredient processing and supply, competing in the same B2B fruit concentrate/ingredient category as NZBC but with European-grown raw material.
- Berrico International: Berrico is a Dutch specialist in blackcurrant concentrate, puree, and IQF products sourced from European growers. Most direct competitor in blackcurrant-specific ingredient supply, though with European raw material rather than NZ provenance.
Broad incumbents
- Döhler Group: Döhler is a major global natural ingredients supplier providing fruit juices, concentrates, purees, powders, and anthocyanin-rich natural colors to F&B manufacturers. Overlaps with NZBC across berry-derived concentrate, juice, and powder formats, but operates across many fruits and is far larger.
- SunOpta: SunOpta is a North American plant-based and fruit ingredient company producing frozen fruit, IQF berries, fruit purees, and concentrates for food manufacturers. Closely comparable on IQF and frozen fruit formats and on B2B manufacturer customer base.
- AGRANA Fruit: AGRANA Fruit produces fruit preparations, purees, and concentrates for dairy, bakery, and beverage manufacturers globally. Comparable as a B2B fruit ingredient supplier with similar customer base (large CPG and beverage manufacturers).
- Sensient Technologies: Sensient is a global producer of natural colors and flavors including anthocyanin extracts from blackcurrant, elderberry, and other sources. Overlaps with NZBC on the anthocyanin value proposition, particularly for functional food and beverage coloring applications.
- Symrise Diana Foods: Symrise Diana Foods is a major supplier of fruit-based solutions including juices, purees, concentrates, and anthocyanin ingredients to food, beverage, and nutrition manufacturers worldwide. Competes in the same natural fruit ingredient category.
Regional players
- Berry Gardens: Berry Gardens is a UK-based grower-owned cooperative marketing soft fruits including blackcurrants. Comparable cooperative business model and blackcurrant category overlap, but primarily serves UK/European markets rather than Asia-Pacific.
- Zespri International: Zespri is a New Zealand kiwifruit cooperative with a similar farmer-owned structure and global F&B manufacturer customer base. Comparable as a New Zealand fruit export cooperative, though in a different fruit category with much larger scale.
- Enzafruit New Zealand: Enzafruit is a New Zealand fruit cooperative producing apple and other fruit concentrates and purees for global F&B manufacturers. Closely comparable cooperative structure and B2B fruit ingredient business model from the same geographic base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative social profiles
Digital presenceThe New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative
What does The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative do?
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative aggregates blackcurrants from its member farmers in New Zealand and processes them into bulk ingredient formats — concentrate (BRIX65°), individually quick frozen (IQF) whole fruit, puree, straight juice, and powder — for sale to global food and beverage manufacturers, food service operators, and sports nutrition brands. Its products are positioned as premium functional ingredients on the basis of the uniquely high anthocyanin profile of New Zealand-grown blackcurrants.
Is The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative a public or private company?
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative founded?
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative based?
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative is headquartered in Lincoln, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative make money?
One revenue line is on record: bulk Ingredient Sales.
Who are The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Iprona and Berrico International. Broad incumbents are Döhler Group, SunOpta, AGRANA Fruit, Sensient Technologies and Symrise Diana Foods. Regional players are Berry Gardens, Zespri International and Enzafruit New Zealand.
Does The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative have an API?
No public API is recorded for The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative.
What industry is The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative in?
The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative's product category is Fruit Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAFAG, Frozen Fruit & Vegetable Processing (IQF, Frozen Blends), with a secondary code of AFAKAFAE, Dried & Dehydrated Fruit & Vegetables (Freeze-Dried, Air-Dried, Powders). Its NAICS code is 3114 and its SIC code is 2030.