LuLu inks MoU to source Ladakh's Halman apricots, targets 1,000 tonnes for West Asia
Ladakh has shipped its first 5-tonne consignment of premium Halman apricots to the UAE under an MoU with LuLu Retail, opening direct West Asia access for Himalayan growers. The deal targets 1,000 tonnes this season, tapping 30,000 farming families across 2,600 hectares producing nearly 16,000 tonnes annually.
What happened
Lulu Group · Ladakh shipped 5 tonnes of premium Halman apricots to UAE under an MoU with LuLu Retail, targeting 1,000 tonnes this season, giving Himalayan
Key facts
- 5 tonnes
- 1,000 tonnes target
- 1,500 kg over two years
- 30,000 farming families
- 2,600 hectares
- 15,868 tonnes annual production
- 1,999 tonnes dried apricots
Why this matters
The MoU secures early direct access to 30,000 growers across 2,600 hectares, creating a template for locking up other geographically-unique origin produce ahead of rivals.
What to watch
- Second and third consignment sizes and cadence over the season
- Retail shelf price and sell-through velocity in UAE stores
- Spoilage/rejection rates and cold-chain reliability reports
- Announcements extending MoU to other produce or GCC markets
- Grower payout terms and participation rate among the 30,000 families
- LuLu locks aggregation/logistics partner and cold-chain corridor from Ladakh to UAE hubs
- Premium in-store branding of 'Ladakh Halman' apricots across UAE/GCC stores to test price point
- Government/APEDA export-facilitation support and GI-tag marketing amplification
- Farmer collectives / FPOs organize grading and consolidation to hit volume commitments
- Competing GCC retailers scout alternative Himalayan or Central Asian apricot origins