Freshconex Congress, the one-day conference event that precedes convenience trade fair Freshconex in Berlin, Germany, will this year take an in-depth look at the future of the fresh-cut market in key southern European countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
The conference, which takes place on 3 February at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, opens with Florette's operations director Jean-Michel Caulier giving an overview of market trends in southern Europe. José Luis Bernal of Spanish group Primaflor and Yves Clément, president of French association SFPAE, will then join Mr Caulier in a panel discussion about the issues raised.
Italy, Europe's second-largest fresh-cut market, is the focus of the second session of the Freshconex Congress, with a 90-minute session moderated by Professor Roberto Della Casa of Bologna University. He will be aided in assessing the country's fresh-cut market by leading manufacturers, marketers and retailers.
Session three looks at technology in the fresh-cut convenience market, focusing firstly on the opportunities for improved research and development and then analysing the important role that the world's leading see manufacturers are playing to deliver better fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.
The Freshconex Congress, organised by Eurofruit Magazine in association with the United Fresh Produce Association, is followed by the Freshconex trade fair and exhibition event on 4-6 February, running parallel to Fruit Logistica 2009.
