Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormLiquid (Non-alcoholic beverage)
Industry PositionManufactured Food Product
Market
Raspberry juice in New Zealand is a processed fruit beverage segment that commonly appears as single-fruit juice, blends, and berry-based chilled juice/smoothie products sold through major grocery retailers. Products marketed as “fruit juice” are governed by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (including Standard 2.6.1 for fruit and vegetable juice) and general labelling standards enforced in New Zealand by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). For imported raspberry juice intended for sale, New Zealand requires the importer to be registered with MPI and to assess and confirm the food is safe and suitable before arrival. Market offerings include “not from concentrate” positioning as well as formulations using juice from concentrate in berry-based products.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market with domestic beverage processing and niche berry-juice products
Domestic RoleRetail beverage category (juice/smoothies and fruit-based drink products) with some domestic manufacturing and branding
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighIf raspberry juice is imported for sale in New Zealand by an unregistered importer, Customs/MPI registration checks can result in the consignment being held until an MPI Food Importer registration number is issued.Confirm MPI Food Importer registration (or use a registered agent) before shipment; align importer details across Customs entries and commercial documents.
Logistics MediumRaspberry juice and similar beverages are freight-intensive (bulky liquid with packaging weight), making landed cost and availability sensitive to sea-freight volatility and disruption.Use contracted freight where possible, build buffer stock for high-velocity SKUs, and evaluate local bottling/blending options where commercially viable.
Food Safety MediumMPI expects importers to assess and confirm safety and suitability pre-arrival and may monitor imported foods; where inspection/sampling/testing is directed, delays and corrective actions can occur if evidence is incomplete or results are non-compliant.Maintain batch-level documentation (specs, labels, traceability, and COAs where relevant) and pre-verify compliance with Food Standards Code requirements for juice naming/composition and labelling.
Labor & Social MediumHorticulture supply chains in New Zealand rely on seasonal labour mechanisms (including the RSE scheme) and have an explicit policy focus on worker rights and exploitation risks, creating reputational and compliance exposure for buyers seeking ethically sourced local berry inputs.Apply supplier due diligence (employment standards, accommodation and wage compliance checks) and require corrective-action procedures aligned to New Zealand employment standards expectations.
Supply MediumSome New Zealand fruit processors report that New Zealand does not grow sufficient quantities of suitable raspberries for their needs, implying potential dependence on imported raspberries and/or concentrates for raspberry-containing products and added risk for “NZ-grown” origin claims.Substantiate origin claims at SKU level, contract multiple approved sources (local and imported), and maintain documentary traceability for raspberry inputs (fruit vs concentrate, country of origin).
Labor & Social- Seasonal labour dependency in horticulture (including berry supply chains) using migrant seasonal worker pathways such as the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme
- Documented policy focus on worker rights and exploitation risk controls within the RSE scheme context (elevated scrutiny since late 2022)
Standards- BRCGS
- HACCP-based food safety systems
FAQ
If I import raspberry juice for sale in New Zealand, what is the most common deal-breaker compliance issue to avoid?Make sure the importer is registered with MPI as a food importer (or uses a registered agent). New Zealand Customs Service has stated that food consignments imported by unregistered importers can be held until a Food Importer registration number is issued.
What does New Zealand require if a product is sold as “raspberry juice” (i.e., juice of a specified fruit)?Under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Standard 2.6.1), a food sold as fruit juice or as the juice of a specified fruit must be fruit juice or a blend of fruit juices, with only limited additional ingredients permitted (including sugars up to 40 g/kg, plus salt, herbs and spices).
Does the New Zealand definition of “juice” allow reconstituted-from-concentrate juice to be treated as juice?Yes. Standard 2.6.1 defines “juice” to include a product that results from concentrating juice and then reconstituting it with water.