About us

SOFRUILEG is a French company specialized in managing intellectual property and designing and distributing innovative technical and marketing concepts for fruits and vegetables.

SOFRUILEG’s mission is to bring new technological and varietal solutions to add value to the supply chain in existing and future markets in fresh produce and food and non-food industries.

SOFRUILEG is affiliated with the Scaap Kiwifruits De France cooperative, the number 1 kiwi company in France. This privileged relationship with producers offers a significant advantage in understanding new challenges in agriculture and in offering innovative solutions.

Over the years,SOFRUILEG has acquired well-known expertise in France’s green-fleshed kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) sector by successfully inventing new production and preservation techniques for the well-known Hayward variety and in launching the early Summerkiwi™ green kiwi variety.

SOFRUILEG is also present in Europe’s fast-growing yellow-flesh kiwi market with the Soreli (Actinidia chinensis) variety.

SOFRUILEG responds to new market trends and expectations with the Nergi® baby kiwi (Actinidia arguta), a real innovation in the fruit berries and snack field.

Armed with market knowledge, SOFRUILEG is involved in its managed varieties’ strategy by suggesting and implementing innovative marketing ideas with international market entities.

SOFRUILEG relies on long-term partnerships with international plant research and breeding centers, technical institutes, specialist nurseries, producers, structural technicians, market entities, and technical, economic, legal and financial institutions.

SOFRUILEG ’s ambition is to develop its International activities in its core business of green, yellow, and kiwi berries but also expand its technical and marketing expertise to new fruit and vegetable species.

contact-bandeau

The team

 

François LAFITTE

Chairman / Kiwi grower in South West of France (Landes area)

picto-tel Phone : +33 (0)6 09 58 04 36

picto-tel f.lafitte@sofruileg.com

 

Jean Pierre CARUEL

Marketing and Variety Licensing

picto-tel Phone : +33 (0)6 13 89 14 33

picto-tel jp.caruel@sofruileg.com

 

Fabien BEC

Research and Development / Technics in orchard / Post harvest technics / Sourcing

picto-tel Phone : +33 (0)6 71 53 76 27

picto-tel f.bec@sofruileg.com

Our expertise

Intellectual property management

• Requesting variety protection certificates and brand registration
• Drafting licensing contracts with breeders or their representatives
• Drafting licensing contracts with producers and commercial operators
• Drafting brand contracts
• Drafting variety experimentation contracts
• Managing royalties
• Initiating infringement proceedings

Variety monitoring

• Regularly visiting key international plant variety research and breeding centers
• Implementing and monitoring experimental orchards

Technological innovations

• Climate protection, precision irrigation, assisted pollination, integrated pest management, harvesting assistance
• Improving post-harvest preservation techniques
• Training and accompanying producers and structural technicians
• Implementing planting records and individual orchard monitoring
• Drafting technical and sales specifications
• Producing plant material in nursery

Marketing expertise

• Media and public relations plans
• Creating packaging
• Sensory analysis

Funding applications

Varietal Portfolio

GOLDEN FLESH KIWI

Type of fruits Market position Download
HAEGEUM

 

Supermarkets and Retails picto-download-pdf
SORELI

 

Supermarkets and Retails picto-download-pdf
MARKET TRENDS :
The consumption of yellow kiwi in the world has been growing steadily for several years. Fruits with intense yellow flesh, juicy and aromatic are appreciated. Consumers are looking for outstanding taste experience.

RED FLESH KIWI

Type of fruits Market position Download
CHUHONG New market opportunity picto-download-pdf
MARKET TRENDS :
Fruits are very tasty with intense and balanced tropical flavors. Appearance and taste offer a great opportunity for new fruits. However size and disease tolerance need to be improved for a commercial cultivar.
The red-fleshed kiwi market does not yet exist due to a lack of performing varieties. New cultivars are being evaluated technically and commercially for the professional market mainly. Some opportunities exist for the gardening market.

EARLY GREEN FLESH KIWI 

Type of fruits Market position Download
SUMMERKIWI™ Supermarkets and Retails picto-download-pdf

HAEWON

Supermarkets and Retails picto-download-pdf
MARKET TRENDS :
The international market is dominated by the green kiwi mid-season variety Hayward. The changeover period between the end of Hayward season grown in southern hemisphere and the first availability of Hayward grown in northern hemisphere offers a window of opportunity for an early green kiwifruit with nice appearance and very good flavor.

KIWI BERRY

Type of fruits Market position Download
Nergi® Supermarkets and Retails in the berries universe picto-download-pdf

Rua

picto-download-pdf

Tahi

MARKET TRENDS :
Convenient and healthy, berries are one of the most promising categories in the fruit sector in the world. All profiles of consumers are concerned. Closed to blueberries and raspberries, kiwi berries open new and exciting developments in the berries universe.

Technology

Technics of production

• Water management (capacitive probe and electrophysiology sensors)
• Soil Management (organic matter , biodiversity and symbiosis with root system)
• Bees and Bumble bees Pollinisation under hailnet
• Canopy management ( higher production and lower pruning cost)

Post Harvest

• Postharvest test
• Fruit tolerance to cold temperature
• Fruit tolerance to CO2 and Ethylene
• Fruit Packaging and selection

News

HAEGEUM DAY: A successful first

HAEGEUM DAY: A successful first

How to encourage producers to invest in a resistant and productive yellow kiwi variety? After conquering kiwi industry professionals at specialized trade shows, the Haegeum variety is now establishing itself as a major innovation: a yellow kiwi variety of high qualitative level available from December to May. To mark this advancement, SOFRUILEG organized on September [...]
NERGI® Kiwi Berries Are Back for a Fresh, Flavourful, and Committed 2025 Season!

NERGI® Kiwi Berries Are Back for a Fresh, Flavourful, and Committed 2025 Season!

Available from late August for three months of natural delight. NERGI®, the Kiwi Berry with big success, makes its comeback to European shelves in the berry aisle starting late August 2025. This three-month season is all about freshness, environmental commitment, and a bold new visual identity. A Nutrient Powerhouse in a Mini Format The NERGI® […]

SOFRUILEG to present its new kiwi varieties at MACFRUIT 2025

SOFRUILEG to present its new kiwi varieties at MACFRUIT 2025

SOFRUILEG, french company dedicated to global intellect property licensing, design of innovative technical and marketing concepts in the fruits industry will be present at MACFRUIT 2025. SOFRUILEG's mission is to bring new technical and varietal solutions to the growers to add value to the supply chain in existing and future markets in fresh produce food. [...]

François LAFITTE

Chairman
f.lafitte@sofruileg.com

François LAFITTE

Chairman
f.lafitte@sofruileg.com

Jean-Pierre CARUEL

Marketing and Variety Licensing
jp.caruel@sofruileg.com

Jean-Pierre CARUEL

Marketing and Variety Licensing
jp.caruel@sofruileg.com

Fabien BEC

Research and Development
f.bec@sofruileg.com

Fabien BEC

Research and Development
f.bec@sofruileg.com

Contact us

sofruileg-logotype348

WHERE WE ARE

Address: 45, chemin de Peyrelongue / 40300 LABATUT (FRANCE)
Phone: 00 +33 (0)5 58 98 65 18
Web: www.sofruileg.com

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