Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Kiev welcomes the 8th International Conference “Fruits & Vegetables of Ukraine – 2011. New Exporter”
Already for the eighth year in a row, the international conference “Fruits & Vegetables of Ukraine” has been enjoying the status of the most important event for the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable business. Participation in the conference has already become a tradition for the majority of leading producers, traders, supermarket chains, importers, exporters, processors and equipment suppliers. This year, the conference took place on November 30 – December 2 that was a usual time for all participants; however, the conference differed much from a standard format.
Being well aware of difficulties faced by the fresh produce market participants in this season, the organizers applied best efforts to create the most efficient informational platform for sharing experience and prompt solutions of a wide range of topmost issues.
Firstly, Fruit-Inform was not only the conference organizer, but simultaneously the co-organizer of Fresh Produce Ukraine 2011, the exhibition which welcomed the conference.
Secondly, the conference program embraced the whole spectrum of fruit and vegetable business issues with especially high attention drawn to marketing questions. As a result, this year's conference was notable for its international scale. The conference participants represented 20 countries throughout the world; and the fruit and vegetable exports subject turned out to be a keynote of the event. Total number of the conference participants amounted to 250 representatives of 136 companies.
The conference participants' industry sectors structure significantly expanded this year too. For example, the event aroused a high interest from the retail sector representatives.
The conference was opened by the conference speech of Olga Natalich, Export Manager of Kalinovka Trading House. She described all advantages and shortcomings of international trade in Ukrainian fruits and vegetables and gave some practical suggestions to producers planning to start working in the export markets.
Participants' high attention was given to the conference speech of Andriy Yarmak, the author of Fruit-Inform Project. In his presentation, Mr. Yarmak showed the price change prospects in the market in the end of this season and presented the Ukraine fruit and vegetable production and price forecast for the season 2012/13.
The event's exclusiveness was confirmed by announcement of rankings of Ukraine's leading suppliers of vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings as well as leading suppliers of plant protection products and refrigeration equipment. Rankings were made by Fruit-Inform analysts according to the results of the large-scale survey conducted before the conference. The award “The best vegetable seed supplier” was presented to Rijk Zwaan Ukraine, the status of “The best supplier of fruit tree seedlings in Ukraine” was awarded to Artyomovsk Nursery, the diploma of “The best supplier of plant protection products” was given to Bayer Ukraine, and the award of “The best supplier of fruit and vegetable storage solutions” was presented to Insolar.
The third conference day was fully devoted to International Trade Forum, which turned out to be the most pleasant surprise for all participants of the fruit and vegetable market and the most important event in the outgoing season. A trade forum of such a scale was held in the CIS for the first time ever and arouse an interest being unexpected even for the organizers. The trade forum was attended by representatives of all fruit and vegetable retail sector of Ukraine: Auchan Hypermarket, Billa-Ukraine, Furshet Supermarket Chain, X5 Retail Group, METRO Cash & Carry, Fozzy Group of Companies, Spar-Logistic, Foodmarket, Evrotek Retailing Company, ATB-Market, Ukrainskiy Retail, Karavan Hypermarket Chain, Kalinovka Trading House, Ukrtrade, Novus Ukraine, Avanta Trading House, Tavriya-V, Kray, Barvinok Retail Chain.
International Trade Forum was also visited by representatives of the Russian fruit and vegetable retail sector (Viktoriya Group of Companies and Magnit) and a company from Poland: Silvi Cola F.H. Sp. z o.o. Total number of the forum participants exceeded 100 companies from 15 countries throughout the globe.
Fruit-Inform would like to express its gratitude to Fito-Mag (Russia), the general sponsor of the conference, and Schoeller Arca Systems (Ukraine), the conference sponsor, for their help in the conference organization and to all conference and forum attendees for great mood and active business atmosphere at the event.
Organizers promise to keep a good tradition in the next year and present an interest program and new surprises to all participants of the conference “Fruits & Vegetables of Ukraine – 2012”.
Those companies which for some reason were not able to take part in this year's conference can receive the conference presentations and participants' contacts by filling out an application form for distance participation.
We would also remind you that the next meeting of the fresh produce specialists from the CIS countries will be held at the 4th International Conference “Potatoes and Vegetables of Ukraine – 2012”, Kiev, Ukraine, February 16-17, 2012.