In a South African grocery retail first, Checkers has brought a limited quantity of the award-winning, Spanish-grown ONIX™ citrus to local shoppers.
The distinctive black‑skinned blood orange – known for its deep ruby interior, distinctive external striping, and complex flavour that precisely balances sweetness and acidity – is now exclusively available, while stocks last, in selected Checkers stores in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Naturally high in anthocyanins, this “super natural” fruit combines visual intensity with nutritional value. ONIX™ also offers great versatility, fitting naturally into snacking, juicing, baking and everyday cooking.
Checkers partnered with global fresh food company AMFRESH to source this new generation citrus for the local market. Developed by AMFRESH’s varietal innovation platform, GENESIS FRESH, ONIX™ has already captured international attention, having won the esteemed 2025 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award and earning recognition from the International Taste Institute with the Superior Taste Award, connecting global innovation with local retail execution across hemispheres.
“This limited and exclusive introduction of ONIX™ is a great example of how we’re focused on continuously improving our fresh offering with products that stand out in quality and taste, while bringing innovation and excitement to our customers. It’s a strategy that continues to resonate with shoppers, contributing to a 1.6% increase in our fruit and vegetable market share over the last financial year.”
– says Quintin Paladin, General Manager of Freshmark, Checkers’ fruit and vegetable procurement and distribution arm
The imports complement Checkers’ commitment to sourcing locally, with around 95% of fresh fruit and vegetables, including citrus, supplied from a network of more than 450 South African farmers.
In 2025, Checkers was the first retailer to debut Pink Lemons, Finger Limes and The Alizza Fruit™ – a seedless pomelo-mandarin hybrid often referred to as “The Queen of Citrus” – all fruit innovations from the local industry, deemed as one of the world’s most dynamic citrus-producing regions.
Importing exclusive international fruit and vegetable variants assist the local agricultural sector by stimulating demand, measuring customer response, and offering market data that help guide crop development and future investments.
“ONIX™ brings new energy into the citrus category through distinctive flavour, strong visual appeal, and clear consumer relevance. This introduction reflects how our end-to-end model connects global innovation with local market execution. By working closely with partners like Checkers, we can both excite shoppers today and generate insights to support future local adaptation and production.”
– André Russouw, Country Manager at GENESIS FRESH South Africa