A fresh-produce company sponsoring a basketball academy is not the most obvious fit. But when the chance came to partner with the Pau Gasol Academy by Santander, it took us about five minutes to say yes — and I'd do it again tomorrow.
The Academy develops young athletes from across the world, and nutrition sits right at the centre of how it works. We came on board as the fresh-fruit partner, bringing Style by Fruit to the kids through the week — the same premium fruit we put on retail shelves, in the hands of teenagers between drills.
Healthy habits start young. Putting great fruit in the hands of young athletes is the most natural brand story we could tell.
The visibility was extraordinary. For a company that mostly talks to buyers and importers, sharing a stage with Pau Gasol — a global icon — and names like MARCA, Iberia, Santander and the Gasol Foundation put Exquisite Fruits in front of audiences we would never reach through the trade alone.
Why it actually fit
- Healthy living: our product is the message, not a logo on a wall.
- Youth and the long term: the Academy thinks in generations, and so do we.
- Quality company: being next to brands that obsess over excellence is exactly where we want to be.
Brand-building for a produce company isn't about billboards. It's about showing up, with real fruit, where it matters — and letting the product do the talking. The Pau Gasol Academy let us do exactly that, and it's the kind of partnership we'll keep looking for.
