Fresh Produce India – India’s only international fresh produce conference and expo event – returns to Mumbai on 26-27 April with a new format to maximise information, business and networking opportunities for delegates.
A range of high-quality local and international speakers have signed up to the programme’s new mix of panel discussions and workshop sessions, promising delegates unrivalled information, insights and discussion on the fast-developing Indian market.
Each morning of the two-day event kicks off with a plenary ‘Business Insight’ conference session addressing the headline issues in the Indian business.
Fresh Produce India Expo then opens, showcasing a range of products and services. Delegates get ample time to meet and do business at the exhibition. It’s the primary networking arena or ‘Business Hub’: open from 11am-5:30pm on Day One and 10:30am-2pm on Day Two.
Running alongside Fresh Produce India Expo is a programme of special workshop sessions for delegates to choose from covering a wide range of subjects.
On the panels
Major global fresh produce group Capespan recently completed a landmark investment in India with the acquisition of a 35 per cent stake in leading Mumbai-based importer and distributor Yupaa. Tonie Fuchs, executive assistant to the group MD of Capespan, discusses the drivers for the group’s investment, the partners’ future plans and how he sees India emerging on the global stage in Day One’s Business Insight session – ‘Putting India’s fresh produce business into perspective’.
Fresh fruit retailing in India is heavily dominated by street vendors and traditional markets, with modern supermarket retailing struggling to gain traction. The second Business Insight session – ‘Better ways to service India’s savvy shoppers’ – looks at how fresh produce suppliers can educate consumers on quality standards, build brands and capture more value from the domestic market. The session also examines how fresh fruit imports can help domestic producers raise their game in India and achieve a new level of professionalism.
Parth Karvat, head of global procurement for Yupaa’s import arm, presents a supply chain analysis to illustrate the workings of traditional retailing and roadside vending, and looks at the most effective ways of marketing.
Joining him in the panel discussion are Ritesh Bhimani, India market manager for kiwifruit marketer Zespri, which has been utilising a range of retail channels to build its brand in India, and Srinivasa Ramanujam, business head of major apple packer and distributor Adani Agrifresh, which has successfully built the Farmpik brand for domestically-grown apples.
Workshop zone
Fresh Produce India’s workshop sessions go into more detail on specific subjects in a seminar-style format, offering expert insights and practical advice for delegates. There is a range of sessions to choose from under the categories of Consumer Pulse, Trade Hub and Retail Detail.
IMRB/Kantar Worldpanel’s K Ramakrishan presents an in-depth insight into the latest trends in Indian consumer behaviour in Day One’s Consumer Pulse session ‘Meeting the myriad demands of India’s millions of shoppers’. Joining him to discuss the rise of online channels will be Seshu Kumar Tirumala, national head of buying and merchandising at India’s leading online grocery retailer Big Basket.
John Baker, chief executive of Produce Marketing Australia, delivers a special retail workshop ‘New ways for the best fresh produce merchandising’. From category management through to store level execution, the interactive workshop will offer expert advice for senior retail buyers, store managers and produce marketers.
New sources for Indian buyers
Latin American exporting countries are a long way from India, but they have this emerging market in their sights. In a Trade Hub workshop exploring the region’s sourcing potential for India, Jaime Gonzales, a former agronomist and Chile’s agricultural attaché for India, discusses his country’s market development strategy for fresh fruit while Univeg’s Atilio Saldias, who previously worked in India on group’s joint venture with Mahindra, assesses the relative position and potential of the key Latin American exporting nations in India.
Day Two’s Trade Hub workshop spotlights brand new supply sources that have been making a splash on India’s import market. Belgium is a standout example, achieving significant growth in apple and pear exports over recent seasons. Philippe Appeltans, secretary general of VBT, the Association of Belgian Horticultural Auctions, and Veerle Van Der Sypt, secretary general of Fresh Trade Belgium, discuss the country’s offering for Indian buyers, and explain its plans to further expand sales.
Linking the chain
Supply chain integration is key to boosting farmers’ prospects in India, as well as addressing high levels of wastage and improving quality standards. Day Two’s Tech Talk brings together local and international experts to look at how such integration can be achieved, from seed to plate.
Jan Doldersum, manager of marketing and business development for global seed-breeding company Rijk Zwaan, discusses his company’s experiences in India and other parts of the world and looks at the potential solutions. Allan White, advisor of business growth at leading fruit science company Plant & Food Research, outlines the platform model the group has developed in China, and presents the potential to apply such systems in India.
Retail visits
Fresh Produce India’s programme concludes on the afternoon of 27 April with a retail tour taking in some of the best examples of fresh fruit and vegetable retailing in Mumbai, both traditional and modern.
A number of the leading names in local and international business are confirmed as sponsors of Fresh Produce India. Belgian organisation VLAM (Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board) is this year’s Platinum Sponsor. Other sponsors include Fruit South Africa, Capespan/Yupaa, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, IG International, Suri Agro Fresh, IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative, the Washington Apple Commission and FROM.
For more information or to register for Fresh Produce India, visit www.freshproduceindia.com
