Fyffes and Miles Import announce strategic partnership in France

Fyffes BB #:111359 and Miles Import SA have announced a new three-year strategic partnership in France, bringing together the complementary strengths of two experienced fresh produce businesses to develop opportunities in the French market.

Under the agreement, Miles Import will become the sole distributor for Fyffes in France. The two companies will work together to strengthen the supply and commercial development of bananas and pineapples in the French market.

The partnership combines Fyffes’ international sourcing capabilities and extensive experience in the production, procurement and supply of high-quality tropical fresh produce with Miles Import’s established commercial capabilities, customer relationships and knowledge of the French market.

For Fyffes, the agreement represents an important step in developing its presence in France, where the company sees opportunities to bring its fresh produce expertise, responsible sourcing approach and international supply capabilities to more customers.

Frank Burkhardt, Chief Commercial Officer at Fyffessaid:

“France is an important fresh produce market and one where we see significant potential for Fyffes. We recognise that succeeding in a market requires strong local expertise, relationships and an in-depth understanding of customers, which is why we are delighted to enter this strategic partnership with Miles Import.

“Fyffes brings more than a century of experience in fresh produce and an extensive international supply network, while Miles Import brings strong knowledge of the French market and established relationships with customers. We believe those strengths are highly complementary.

“This is very much a long-term partnership. Our ambition over the next three years is to build the business together by providing French customers with quality fresh produce, reliable supply and a high level of service.”

Guy Lesvenan, Chairman and CEO of Miles Import SA said:

“When I founded Miles Import in 1994, our growth was initially built on strong expertise in citrus fruits and grapes. In the 2010s, we took another step forward by specializing in air-freighted mangoes for the French market.

Since 2020, we have proudly developed the Fyffes brand across the French retail, foodservice and food processing sectors. Our partnership is built on a shared vision: a commitment to quality, traceability, transparency and long-term relationships.

Today, I am particularly proud to announce that Miles Import is becoming the sole distributor of Fyffes products in France and will now lead the development of Fyffes bananas in France, in addition to its ongoing pineapple business. This milestone reflects six years of mutual trust and our shared ambition for the French market.”

The partnership reflects both companies’ commitment to developing resilient, long-term relationships across the fresh produce supply chain and responding to the evolving needs of customers.

Fyffes and Miles Import will begin working together under the new agreement from 1^st January 2027.

About Fyffes

For over 130 years, Fyffes has supplied high-quality tropical produce to consumers around the world. Headquartered in Geneva, we are one of the largest banana and pineapple importers in Europe and the world’s largest importer of Fairtrade-certified bananas. Fyffes is also a supplier in North America, partnering with customers to deliver quality fruit and category expertise.

Deep consumer insight and strong innovation capabilities underpin our approach, enabling us to develop differentiated products, packaging and merchandising solutions that drive growth. Sustainability and responsible sourcing are central to our business, with a transparent and resilient supply chain that supports farming communities and protects the environment.

Fyffes has been part of Sumitomo Corporation since 2017.

About Miles Import S.A.S.

Founded in 1994 and based in Rungis, France, Miles Import S.A.S. specialises in importing and distributing fresh fruit for the European market. Its portfolio includes bananas, pineapples, citrus fruit, grapes, mangoes, pomegranates, kiwifruit, limes, cherries and passion fruit, sourced from a diverse international supply base

Miles Import serves retailers, specialist wholesalers, foodservice businesses and fresh-cut fruit companies, supported by warehousing, logistics and packaging operations in France and the Netherlands. The company is committed to product quality and safety, traceability, responsible sourcing and continuous improvement across its operations.

For further information, visit www.milesimport.fr