Special Fruit

Name

Special Fruit

Legal name

Special Fruit NV

Website

https://specialfruit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Special Fruit NV is a Belgian family-owned importer and distributor of berries, exotic fruits, ready-to-eat produce, and special vegetables, supplying European retail chains, foodservice operators, and wholesale businesses across more than 20 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Berry (except Strawberry) Farming (111334), Strawberry Farming (111333)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Fruit Wholesale (AFAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh-Cut & Value-Added Produce (Washed, Peeled, Sliced, Packaged) (AFAKAFAA), Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD), Berry Sorting & Packing Facilities (AFAOAGAD)

Keywords

• Fresh produce distribution
• Berries and exotics
• Avocado ripening
• B2B produce supplier
• Specialty fruit import

Headquarters

HQ city

Meer

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Sales: B2B transaction-based sales of berries, exotic fruits, and special vegetables to European retail sector, supermarkets, foodservice, and wholesale businesses. Revenue generated through product sales with no public pricing disclosed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Special Fruit is a B2B importer, ripener and distributor of fresh berries, exotic fruits and special vegetables, sold under proprietary brands (BerryFresh, BestChoice, Calinda, Ready To Eat) to European retailers, foodservice and wholesale customers. The company combines global sourcing, 170 hectares of dedicated grower cooperation, custom packaging, and patented Softripe AI-based ripening technology to deliver year-round ultra-fresh produce with extended shelf life.

Product overview

Special Fruit is a Belgian-based international importer and distributor of fresh produce operating across four product categories: (1) Berries under the BerryFresh brand (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, red currants, cherries, and berry mixes), (2) Exotics under the BestChoice brand (pomegranate, passion fruit, carambola, coconut, dates, figs, persimmon, lychee, mango, papaya, cherimoya, lime, kumquat, avocado, and more), (3) Ready-to-eat produce under the Ready To Eat brand (avocados, mangoes, papayas ripened via Softripe technology), and (4) Special vegetables under the BestChoice brand (asparagus, baby corn, beans, chestnuts, ginger, lemongrass, rawit pepper, salsify, snowpeas, sugar snaps, sweet potato, turmeric). The company also operates its own cultivation with partner growers across 170 hectares, primarily for blueberries and raspberries. Packaging flexibility is a core service offering, with customized packaging available across all product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BerryFresh Premium soft-fruit brand covering strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, red currants, cherries and berry mixes, with a quality guarantee and year-round availability for European retail and foodservice buyers.
• BestChoice Quality seal of approval for difficult-to-assess exotics (pomegranate, passion fruit, carambola, mango, papaya, avocado, etc.) and special vegetables (asparagus, baby corn, ginger, turmeric, etc.), guaranteeing ripeness, quality and homogeneity for retail and foodservice buyers.
• Calinda Winter and spring strawberry variety with intense sweet flavor, extended shelf life and integrated supply-chain quality control, sold under the Calinda brand for European retail buyers.
• Ready To Eat Brand covering pre-ripened produce (avocados, mangoes, papayas) ripened via Softripe AI-based cells and forced-air ripening facilities to guarantee ready-to-eat condition on delivery for retail and foodservice buyers.
• Custom packaging and private-label solutions Made-to-measure packaging service offering a wide range of formats, sizes and private-label options for retail and foodservice buyers across Special Fruit's berry, exotic and vegetable product lines.
• Dedicated grower cooperation programme (170 hectares) Coordinated cultivation programme with dedicated growers covering 170 hectares of berries (mainly blueberries and raspberries), supplying integrated upstream volume with controlled quality, sustainability and ethical-compliance procedures for the company's fresh-produce offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Softripe technology reduces food waste through stress-free ripening and significantly longer shelf life
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Eco TechnicsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFamily business from Brecht that installed the 1606 solar panels on Special Fruit's facilities. Part of the sustainability collaboration with Ecopower.
• Normec FoodcarecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of QC One platform used by Special Fruit for centralized quality monitoring, clear reporting, and efficient collaboration between growers, suppliers, and quality teams. Modern and user-friendly platform widely used in fresh produce industry.
• SIFAVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a family business, Special Fruit is affiliated with SIFAV (Sustainable Juice Covenant) and is actively committed to reducing food waste and limiting climate impact of activities.
• Growers and Suppliers NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Fruit cooperates with dedicated growers cultivating 170 hectares of blueberries, raspberries, red currants, strawberries, and blackberries. Suppliers must agree in writing to strict procedures and ethical guidelines. Long-term relationships ensure quality, continuity and sustainability from cultivation to delivery.
• Softripe Technology (Licensed)coreTechnology or IntegrationSpecial Fruit is the exclusive launch partner in Belgium for Softripe AI-based avocado ripening technology. This patented innovation represents a significant competitive advantage in avocado quality and shelf life.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Fyffes: Irish-headquartered tropical produce distributor (bananas, pineapples, melons) with European retail supply chain. Comparable in B2B fresh produce distribution, exotic fruit sourcing, and European supermarket customer base.
• BerryWorld Group: UK-based global berry specialist supplying premium strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries to European retailers. Directly comparable in soft-fruit focus, proprietary berry brands, and retailer-led B2B distribution.
• Bakker Barendrecht: Dutch fresh fruit and vegetable distributor supplying Dutch and European supermarket chains. Comparable as a B2B produce wholesaler with similar retailer-led model and proximity to Antwerp/Rotterdam port region.
• Greenyard: Belgian-headquartered global fresh, frozen, and prepared fruit and vegetable supplier serving European retailers and foodservice. Direct peer given overlapping product mix (berries, exotics, vegetables), similar B2B European retail model, and comparable cultivation and ripening footprint.
• Cool Fresh International: Dutch importer of exotics, berries, and ready-to-eat fruit for European retail. Comparable in size, exotic and berry portfolio, ripening capabilities, and B2B European supermarket model.
• Nature's Pride: Dutch importer and ripener of exotic fruit and vegetables (avocados, mangoes, berries) with proprietary ripening facilities and European retail focus. Highly comparable on ready-to-eat exotics, ripening technology, and European supermarket customer base.
• Hessing Supervers: Dutch fresh-cut fruit and vegetable processor and distributor serving European retail and out-of-home channels. Comparable in fresh-cut, ready-to-eat produce capabilities and European supermarket customers.

Broad incumbents

• Total Produce / Dole plc: Global fresh produce conglomerate (formerly Total Produce, now Dole plc) with broad portfolio across bananas, citrus, berries, exotics, and vegetables. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in the same European retail wholesale channel.
• Driscoll's: Global market leader in berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) sold through European and worldwide retailers. Comparable as a premium branded berry specialist with proprietary varieties and grower networks.

Regional players

• Blue Whale (Blue Whale SAS): French apple grower-marketer distributing branded apples across European retail. Comparable as a vertically integrated fruit supplier with proprietary brand and European retail relationships, though narrower category scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkUH8ptWASQO2kg8IrYUhWQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-fruit
• Facebookfacebook.com/Special-Fruit-153406858129071

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special Fruit