PRAGUE, Czech Republic, March 24, 2021 – Keep fruit & vegetables fresh for up to 2x longer than before. Rohlik Group (Rohlik.cz, Gurkerl.at, Kifli.hu) have begun a mission with Apeel to create a more sustainable global food system by using the power of nature to enable longer-lasting produce that fights food waste.
Store and enjoy oranges up to 2x longer than before with plant-based ingredients
With this statement, the Rohlik Group have started to cooperate with the Californian company Apeel, which has set itself the goal of keeping fruit & vegetables fresh for up to twice as long – by using plant-based ingredients. Longer-lasting Apeel oranges are now available through the Rohlik Group family (Rohlik.cz, Kifli.hu, Gurkerl.at). The motivation behind this partnership stems from the challenge surrounding the growing global food waste issue.
Apeel’s plant-based protection creates an edible “peel” that can be applied to freshly picked produce such as oranges. The edible layer surrounds the fruit and serves to keep the moisture inside, while the oxygen that removes that moisture remains outside. Apeel’s protective extra peel slows the water loss and oxidation that causes produce to go bad.
“A respectful approach to the environment is important to us. Therefore, for Rohlik Group, Apeel means two things: firstly, we manage to keep fruit & vegetables fresher for longer, and secondly, we are once again helping to avoid food waste” commented Olin Novák, Group CCO.
“We're thrilled to have partners like Rohlik who recognize that giving their customers more time to enjoy produce isn't just good for the planet, it's good for business,” said James Rogers, CEO of Apeel, who continues, “Apeel's plant-based protection helps produce last two times longer, which means Rohlik's customers have access to high-quality produce that is much less likely to go to waste.”
Using the Apeel technology is a great step in our sustainability plan. It is interesting to note that the substance used to create the 'second skin' is plant-based and derived from materials found in all fruits and vegetables. The use of this substance does not affect the taste or the aroma of the food.
Oranges of excellent quality
The Rohlik Group are supplying customers with oranges directly from the grower - the Iberhanse group; a Spanish producer of citrus and stone fruit. The stable climate in the region together with the ideal conditions for growing fruit ensure the highest quality.
Iberhanse has more than 25 years of experience and commitment in the citrus and stone fruit sector, which guarantees their expertise. In addition, the Iberhanse group applies the method of bio-inclusive agriculture on its farms.
“We are very pleased to start this partnership with Rohlik and Apeel, and we are proud to be able to take the next step together in developing and expanding sustainable food and combating food waste,” said Luis Bolaños, CEO of Iberhanse, who continues, “We have been successfully cooperating with Apeel for almost 2 years and we can only absolutely confirm how well their product works.”
Thanks to the Rohlik Group, customers can enjoy tasty sweet oranges, which last longer thanks to Apeel and! thanks to Iberhanse, support and protect biodiversity.
Inspired by nature: plant-based with Apeel
By extending the shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables, the edible Apeel protective cover helps to reduce food waste along the entire supply chain right down to households. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that fruits and vegetables have some of the highest food waste rates at 45 % globally.
Together, the Rohlik Group and Apeel are working to bring further fruit and vegetable varieties to the market and protect nature. At Rohlik Group, we want people to ‘eat well and live well’.
About Rohlik Group
Founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, Rohlik is the European leader of e-grocery in Central Europe. Already active in the Czech Republic (Rohlik.cz), Hungary (Kifli.hu) and Austria (Gurkerl.at), the company will be launching in the coming months in Germany (Knuspr.de).
By owning its end-to-end operations, including all in-house technology, Rohlik provides a superior customer experience and the freshest food from local farmers and artisans, as well as a broad supermarket selection. It currently has 750,000 customers across three international markets.
For more information visit www.rohlik.group
For media enquiries:
Eliška Čeřovská, [email protected]
About Apeel:
Apeel is on a mission to create a more sustainable global food system by using the power of nature to enable longer-lasting produce that fights food waste from farm to kitchen. Apeel produce lasts 2x longer thanks to its plant-based protection made from materials found in the skins, peels and seeds of all fruits and vegetables. Apeel’s protective extra “peel” slows the water loss and oxidation that cause produce to go bad, and is the only proven end-to-end solution for maintaining freshness. Available for USDA-certified organic and conventionally grown produce, Apeel is expanding into an ever-growing number of categories and markets. Good for consumers and the planet, Apeel reduces environmental impacts and gives everyone more time to enjoy fresh produce throughout the supply chain; from growers, to retailers and finally, to consumers. Farmers can sell more of what they grow and people can consume more of what they buy, creating a healthier planet and greater abundance for all. Apeel is Food Gone Good.
Apeel is a trademark/registered trademark of Apeel Technology, Inc. in the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions. For more information visit www.apeel.com
About Iberhanse:
Iberhanse-NaturGreen is a Spanish citrus producer and exporter with more than 25 years of experience and a benchmark for sustainable cultivation.
Pioneers in bio-inclusive agriculture which is reintroducing native flora and fauna to their plantations and transforming them into the forests of the future. Iberhanse protects its nature reserve with P.R.O.O.F. (Protection and Recovery of Original Fauna), their own certification, which guarantees the protection and restoration of flora and fauna. Iberhanse guarantees the quality of their brand thanks to a demanding global pioneer project who not only respects the environment, but also recovers species that have inhabited Spanish forests and meadows for centuries: partridges, foxes, eagles, storks, wild boars, mongooses, otters, vultures, etc. Thanks to their sustainable farming practices, their farms have now reduced water consumption by 25 %, energy consumption by 20 % and the number of applied phytosanitary treatments by 70 %, thus minimizing their toxic load. More than 75 species of animals have been recovered, 3 million cubic meters of water have been transformed into natural ecosystems, 30,000 meters of borders and banks have been restored and 14,000 meters of green corridors have been created. For more information visit www.iberhanse.es