logo

Exhibiting at International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2025

817
ExCeL London
17 Mar - 19 Mar, 2025

Product Offerings

Products:

Macadamia Nuts: MCT 1

Cultivar Management Services: Sourcing new cultivars, Evaluation of nut varieties, Commercialization of approved varieties

Technical Support: Quality control, Royalty management, Marketing and merchandising

Top Nut Group is a vertically integrated macadamia-focused agribusiness that specializes in cultivar development, commercial production, and international marketing of premium macadamia nuts. Headquartered in South Africa, Top Nut operates across the entire macadamia value chain, from genetic improvement and propagation to harvest, post-harvest processing, and market distribution.

Through advanced agricultural practices and strategic partnerships, the company has established itself as a leader in high-performance macadamia cultivars, offering technical expertise and commercialization services to growers across Africa and beyond.

Core Business

Top Nut’s operations are strategically divided into three interconnected verticals:

  • Macadamia nut production and supply
  • Cultivar development and licensing
  • Technical advisory and industry support services

The company aims to accelerate industry growth through innovation in plant genetics, sustainable cultivation, and market connectivity.

Product & Service Offerings

Top Nut offers an integrated suite of products and services tailored to the macadamia industry:

1. Macadamia Nut Cultivars

  • MCT 1: A high-yielding, early-bearing macadamia cultivar known for superior nut quality, kernel recovery, and adaptability to various growing conditions

2. Cultivar Management Services

  • Sourcing and importing new genetic material
  • Rigorous evaluation of macadamia varieties under field conditions
  • Commercialization of approved cultivars to licensed growers

3. Technical & Commercial Support

  • Ongoing agronomic support and orchard planning
  • Quality control advisory throughout production
  • Royalty and intellectual property management
  • Branding and merchandising guidance for market positioning

Top Nut collaborates closely with macadamia farmers, nurseries, and exporters to streamline the path from tree to market.

Specialisation and USP

Top Nut’s unique selling propositions include:

  • Proprietary access to elite macadamia cultivars with proven performance metrics
  • Scientific cultivar evaluation programs in diverse climates
  • Royalty-based licensing model for commercialization
  • Field-based support services that improve grower ROI
  • Strong industry network across Africa, Australia, and Latin America

These specializations make Top Nut a go-to partner for macadamia stakeholders aiming to future-proof their orchards.

Financials

As a private company, financials are not publicly available. However, operational indicators include:

  • Hundreds of hectares under MCT 1 cultivation across South Africa and other macadamia-producing regions
  • Significant growth in cultivar licensing agreements over the past five years
  • Partnerships with nurseries and growers throughout Southern Africa

The licensing and services-based business model provides a recurring revenue stream and scalable growth potential.

Shipment Records

While Top Nut does not directly export processed nuts under its brand, its cultivars are a major source of premium macadamia supply for exporters. Highlights include:

  • MCT 1 nuts contributing to export volumes in South Africa, which shipped over 63,000 metric tons of macadamia nuts in 2023
  • Indirect global footprint through licensed growers in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Latin America

These contributions underpin the global availability and recognition of MCT 1 as a premium cultivar.

Target Market

Top Nut targets multiple customer segments within the macadamia industry:

  • Commercial growers seeking high-yielding, early-bearing varieties
  • Nurseries and propagators looking for licensed, elite planting material
  • Agricultural investors focused on orchard development and nut exports
  • Macadamia processors and marketers interested in consistent, quality raw material supply

The company plays a catalytic role in elevating the competitiveness and sustainability of macadamia supply chains.

Capabilities

  • In-house cultivar evaluation team with access to global breeding networks
  • Regional trial orchards for testing performance in diverse agro-climatic zones
  • Intellectual property management for proprietary cultivars
  • Technical advisory network with agronomists and horticulturists
  • Compliance infrastructure for royalties, phytosanitary standards, and plant movement protocols

These capabilities enable Top Nut to offer a full-service solution for modern macadamia production.

Certifications and Compliance

Top Nut’s operations comply with:

  • National and international phytosanitary regulations
  • Plant breeder’s rights and intellectual property laws
  • Sustainable agricultural practices

MCT 1 and other licensed cultivars are registered under relevant plant variety protection frameworks.

Customer Testimonials

Industry stakeholders frequently cite:

  • “MCT 1 is one of the best-performing macadamia cultivars on our farms. It flowers early, yields consistently, and has a high kernel recovery rate.”
  • “Top Nut provides not just the plants, but the knowledge and follow-up support that ensures success.”
  • “The royalty model incentivizes both parties to focus on long-term orchard productivity.”

These endorsements underscore the company’s value as a technical and strategic partner.

Major Achievements

  • Development and commercialization of MCT 1, now planted across multiple continents
  • Establishment of a scalable licensing framework for growers
  • Recognition within Southern Africa’s macadamia industry as a genetic innovation leader
  • Expansion into new macadamia-growing regions, including trial programs in Latin America and Southeast Asia

Top Nut Group continues to drive macadamia industry evolution through cultivar innovation, agronomic expertise, and a commitment to long-term grower success.