Tessara
Tessara, founded in 1985 in Cape Town, manufactures laminated sulphur-dioxide-emitting sheets (brands Uvasys, Berrisys, Florasys, Tomasys, Lichisys) that suppress Botrytis decay in table grapes, berries, tomatoes, litchis, and cut roses for enterprise growers, packers, and exporters across 30+ countries. Acquired by AgroFresh in September 2023, it now operates as a subsidiary within AgroFresh's broader post-harvest solutions portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tessara does
Tessara (Pty) Ltd, founded in 1985 in Cape Town as Grapetek and rebranded in 2015, manufactures intelligent packaging in the form of laminated plastic sheets that release sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas from encapsulated sodium metabisulphite (Na2S2O5) to suppress Botrytis cinerea and other post-harvest fungal decay in fresh produce. Its product family — Uvasys (table grapes), Berrisys (blueberries), Florasys (cut roses), Tomasys (tomatoes), and Lichisys (litchis) — applies a patented dual-release architecture (high-dose fast release over 24-48 hours followed by a 3-5 ppm slow release for up to 120 days) alongside temperature-mapped formulations tailored to specific crops; the 2022 launch of Uvasys Vivo added a curb-side recyclable single-plastic SKU targeting EU and UK non-recyclable packaging rules. Tessara pioneered this category and claims that its products protect more than US$3 billion of fresh produce annually across 30+ countries, with regulatory credentials including EPA, CDPR, and APVMA registrations and BRCGS Packaging Materials certification at the highest "AA" grade.
The company sells exclusively to enterprise growers, packers, and exporters of fresh produce through a hybrid model: a multi-tier distributor and regional agent network (e.g. Redox in Australia, Veritiv in the USA, Shandong Sinocoroplast in China, Hellagro in Greece, Tres Castillos in Chile, Industrade in Brazil) historically handled commerce, while directly in South Africa it ran a tighter in-house sales operation. In September 2023, AgroFresh Solutions Inc. (NYSE: AGFS, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company) completed its acquisition of Tessara following South African competition authority clearance; post-acquisition, Tessara's SKUs are bundled into AgroFresh's "Smart Packaging" category alongside SmartFresh, VitaFresh Botanicals, FreshCloud, and Control-Tec equipment, and are now reached through AgroFresh's broader global direct-salesforce in addition to the legacy distributor channel.
Tessara is a small organization (11-50 employees) with R&D facilities in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Named enterprise customers and trial accounts include Karsten Group (South Africa's largest table grape exporter and first commercial user of Uvasys Vivo), Michigan Blueberry Growers, Agrokasa (Peru), Six33 Berries Packing, Kamared Grape Company, Calpack, and JDK (20+ year customer). R&D leadership (Dr. F. Vries, Head of Science and Technology) is anchored in applied chemistry and plant pathology rather than software, and there is no public-facing API, SDK, or digital platform product. Tessara is now a subsidiary operating under AgroFresh with its South African leadership (CEO Jaco Smit) retained post-transaction.
Tessara firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tessara
- Legal name
- Tessara Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://tessara.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tessara, founded in 1985 in Cape Town, manufactures laminated sulphur-dioxide-emitting sheets (brands Uvasys, Berrisys, Florasys, Tomasys, Lichisys) that suppress Botrytis decay in table grapes, berries, tomatoes, litchis, and cut roses for enterprise growers, packers, and exporters across 30+ countries. Acquired by AgroFresh in September 2023, it now operates as a subsidiary within AgroFresh's broader post-harvest solutions portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tessara industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Post-Harvest Packaging Solutions
- NAICS
- Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)
- SIC
- Agricultural Chemicals (2870)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sulfites & Sulfur Dioxide (Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Bisulfite) (AFAJAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Preservatives & Antimicrobials (Sorbates, Benzoates, Natamycin, Cultured Dextrose) (CRADAOAF)
Keywords
Where Tessara is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Tessara business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SO2 Generating Sheets: Tessara generates revenue through the sale of intelligent packaging solutions - laminated SO2 generating sheets designed to extend shelf life and prevent postharvest decay in fresh produce during storage and transportation.
- Product Portfolio Sales: Following AgroFresh acquisition, Tessara products (Uvasys, Berrisys, Florasys, Tomasys, Lichisys) are sold through AgroFresh's global distribution network as part of an integrated post-harvest solutions portfolio.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tessara product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tessara manufactures and globally markets laminated SO2-generating sheets under brands Uvasys (table grapes), Berrisys (blueberries), Florasys (cut roses), Tomasys (tomatoes), and Lichisys (litchis). The sheets use sodium metabisulphite (Na2S2O5) encapsulated in laminated plastic to release sulphur dioxide gas during storage and transport, preventing postharvest fungal decay—particularly Botrytis cinerea—and extending shelf life for growers, packers, and exporters.
Product overview
Tessara offers intelligent packaging solutions through a portfolio of SO2-generating sheets designed for different types of fresh produce. The core products include Uvasys (table grapes), Berrisys (blueberries), Florasys (cut roses), Tomasys (tomatoes), and Lichisys (litchis). All products use sodium metabisulphite (Na2S2O5) technology that releases sulphur dioxide gas to prevent postharvest fungal decay caused by Botrytis cinerea, extending shelf life and preserving quality during storage and transportation. Tessara was acquired by AgroFresh in 2023, combining their intelligent packaging solutions with AgroFresh's broader suite of freshness tools including ethylene management, coatings, and digital platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Uvasys: SO2 generating sheets for table grape preservation, protecting against Botrytis cinerea during storage and transport
- Berrisys
- Florasys
- Tomasys
- Lichisys
Products and services
- Uvasys A range of SO2 generating sheets using advanced laminated plastic membranes with sodium metabisulphite (Na2S2O5) for table grape preservation. Available in dual-release, slow release, and fast release variants (Uvasys Green, Uvasys Blue, Uvasys Vivo, Uvasys Fast Release, Uvasys Slow Release) to combat Botrytis cinerea during storage and transport.
- Berrisys An SO2 generating sheet designed specifically for blueberry preservation. The laminated plastic sheet releases sulphur dioxide when activated by moisture (70% RH or higher) to protect berries from Botrytis cinerea decay and extend shelf life by up to 49 days. Berrisys Fast Release targets raspberries and blackberries.
- Florasys An SO2 releasing plastic laminated strip/wrap for cut roses. Uses innovative sulphur dioxide generation technology encapsulated in wax or adhesive matrix to preserve cut flower freshness and prevent Botrytis cinerea decay during storage and transport, extending rose shelf life by 50-100%.
- Tomasys A laminated plastic sheet with SO2 generation technology specifically engineered for Roma and Rosa tomato preservation. The sheet protects tomatoes from postharvest fungal decay (Botrytis cinerea) during transportation and storage using dual-release SO2 technology formulated for tomato storage conditions.
- Lichisys An SO2 generating sheet designed for litchi preservation. Features a Fast Release layer that sterilizes the surface over 24-48 hours and a Slow Release layer active for up to 120 days to inhibit Botrytis cinerea growth.
Quantifiable outcome
- Extends blueberry shelf life by up to 49 days
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tessara
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Tessara technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Tessara partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Karsten GroupflagshipLargest producer and exporter of table grapes in South Africa. First commercial user of Uvasys Vivo recyclable packaging solution at their Gouda pack house. Long-standing partner since early 1990s.
- Redox PTY LTDcoreAustralian distributor for Tessara products. Manages distribution of SO2 generating sheets to berry and produce growers in Australia.
- VeritivcoreUS-based distributor for Tessara products. Partnered with Tessara for US market expansion including Blueberry Convention attendance and Michigan Blueberry Growers trials.
- Shandong SinocoroplastcoreChinese distributor for Tessara products. Tessara's Client Relations Manager Adri van der Merwe visited the facility to strengthen the partnership.
- Industrade (Brazil)coreBrazilian distributor for Tessara products in South American market.
- Tres Castillos (Chile)coreChilean distributor for Tessara products in the Andean produce market.
- Hellagro (Greece)coreGreek distributor and one of the first international markets for Uvasys products. Angelos was instrumental in establishing international expansion to Greece.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tessara competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- JBT Corporation: Global food processing and post-harvest equipment and chemicals provider through its Fresh Produce Technologies segment. Broader incumbent with overlapping post-harvest treatment and coating offerings plus equipment solutions.
- Nufarm: Australian crop protection and specialty chemicals company with post-harvest horticulture products including fungicides. Comparable in registration-driven agricultural chemical business model and APAC distribution overlap.
- AgroFresh Solutions Inc. Parent company and global post-harvest leader offering ethylene management (SmartFresh), coatings (VitaFresh Botanicals), fungicides, and digital platforms. Now integrates Tessara's SO2 generating sheets as its smart packaging line, directly comparable as the broader post-harvest platform that absorbed Tessara.
Direct peers
- Xeda International: French post-harvest technology company providing sanitizers, fungicides, and coating systems for fruits and vegetables. Direct competitor in chemical-based post-harvest preservation with global distribution.
- Pace International (AgroFresh): Pace International, also owned by AgroFresh, provides post-harvest coatings, fungicides, and storage treatments for apples, pears, cherries, and citrus. Direct sister-company peer now operating under the same AgroFresh umbrella as Tessara.
- Fomesa Fruitech: Spanish post-harvest solutions provider offering coatings, fungicides, and sanitizers for citrus, apples, pears, and stone fruit. Comparable as a specialty post-harvest chemical company serving similar enterprise grower and packer customers.
- Decco (UPL): Decco Worldwide, owned by UPL, is one of the largest global providers of post-harvest coatings, fungicides, and sanitation products for fruits and vegetables. Direct competitor in post-harvest preservation across multiple crops including citrus, apples, and stone fruit.
- Citrosol: Spanish specialist in post-harvest treatments including waxes, coatings, and fungicides primarily for citrus and other fresh produce. Comparable as a focused post-harvest preservation company selling formulated chemical solutions to growers and packers.
Regional players
- Sumitomo Chemical (Sumika): Major Japanese chemical and crop protection conglomerate with post-harvest fungicide products sold primarily in Asia. Comparable in sulphite- and fungicide-based post-harvest chemistry but with regional concentration different from Tessara's Africa/Asia/Americas mix.
Emerging players
- Strella Biotechnology: Biosensing platform partner already integrated into AgroFresh's ecosystem (per company data). Provides ethylene and ripeness sensors that complement Tessara's preservation sheets in an integrated digital-plus-chemical post-harvest stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tessara social profiles
Digital presenceTessara compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Tessara financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tessara leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Tessara funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tessara 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 Tessara
What does Tessara do?
Tessara manufactures and globally markets laminated SO2-generating sheets under brands Uvasys (table grapes), Berrisys (blueberries), Florasys (cut roses), Tomasys (tomatoes), and Lichisys (litchis). The sheets use sodium metabisulphite (Na2S2O5) encapsulated in laminated plastic to release sulphur dioxide gas during storage and transport, preventing postharvest fungal decay—particularly Botrytis cinerea—and extending shelf life for growers, packers, and exporters.
Is Tessara a public or private company?
Tessara is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Tessara founded?
Tessara was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tessara based?
Tessara is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Tessara make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SO2 Generating Sheets are the primary driver. The others are product Portfolio Sales.
Who are Tessara's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are JBT Corporation, Nufarm and AgroFresh Solutions Inc.. Direct peers are Xeda International, Pace International (AgroFresh), Fomesa Fruitech, Decco (UPL) and Citrosol. Sumitomo Chemical (Sumika) is listed as a regional player. Strella Biotechnology is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tessara have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tessara.
What industry is Tessara in?
Tessara's product category is Post-Harvest Packaging Solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAFAJ, Sulfites & Sulfur Dioxide (Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Bisulfite), with a secondary code of CRADAOAF, Preservatives & Antimicrobials (Sorbates, Benzoates, Natamycin, Cultured Dextrose). Its NAICS code is 32532 and its SIC code is 2870.