The Chilean contingency at this year’s Fruit Logistica is set to be bigger than ever, incorporating comfortable meeting facilities, a special section for avocado exporters and a former chef from the Chilean embassy in Germany.
Some 40 representatives of Chile’s fresh fruit industry will assemble on 190 square metres of show floor on this its sixth year of attendance at the exhibition.
Commenting on the growth of Chile’s involvement in the international event, Christian Carvajal, marketing manager for Europe and Asia for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA), said: “This is now one of our main events in Europe. There will be about 38,000 visitors which is a huge number for a two-and-a-half-day fair. But what’s really important is the fact that these will be mostly importers and supermarket buyers.
“We will continue with our mission to position Chile as a strategic fresh fruit supply partner to Europe, and we are also going to be promoting the “Chile All Ways Surprising” campaign and the fact that we now have a unifying country image.”
The CFFA is collaborating with Chile’s export promotion agency ProChile and the country’s avocado growers, who will have a dedicated 30-square metre area within the main stand.
Carvajal said: “Although we have a special avocado section, we are covering most other fresh fruit sectors.
“This time around we are trying to get more people to go from Eastern Europe. These markets are interesting for our growers and exporters. They have a high rate of fresh fruit consumption and there is an emerging middle class; people have money to spend on imported products.
“There is also a high growth rate in retail penetration in this region. With supermarkets such as Tesco and Carrefour entering the markets, there are new opportunities opening up for us.”
