The all-in-one content hub featured more than 60 high-profile speakers from 20 different countries
Asia Fruit Logistica launched the Asiafruit Knowledge Centre at this year’s edition – a brand-new content hub offering visitors and exhibitors a combination of strategic insights and practical takeaways.
The all-in-one content hub, powered by knowledge partner Asiafruit Magazine, brought together in a single space on the trade show floor three content streams: Asiafruit Congress, Asiafruit Business Forum, and Asiafruit Showcase.
Asiafruit Knowledge Centre featured more than 60 high-profile speakers from 20 different countries, according to a press release from organiser Global Produce Events (GPE).
Asiafruit Congress: thought leadership and strategic insights
Asiafruit Congress, Asia’s premier fresh produce conference event, kicked off on 4 September with a high-level panel discussion on the changing consumer and retail landscape in Asia.
Anson Bailey, KPMG’s head of consumer and retail practice for Asia Pacific, shared the findings of a survey of more than 7,000 consumers across 14 different markets in the region. A panel of leading industry experts then discussed the key changes and opportunities for fresh produce marketers. They included Antony Greenstein, chief executive of Joy Wing Mau Asia; David Yang, Zespri’s head of market development for Greater China; Fong Yoon Chyi, category director of produce for DFI Retail Group; and Sam White, T&G Global’s Thailand country manager.
The opening session of Day Two (5 September) at Asiafruit Congress brought together top global fruit breeders in a fascinating discussion on the future of varietal innovation. Speakers included KeyGene’s Akshat Medakker; David Marguleas, chief executive of Sun World International; Mohammed Abbas, COO of Fresh Del Monte; Fiachra Moloney, CMO of Bloom Fresh, and Nomi Karniel-Padan, commercial director of Grapa Varieties.
Asiafruit Business Forum: case studies for business success
At Asiafruit Business Forum, industry specialists presented a wide-ranging programme of case studies and workshops on particular topics.
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) hosted a series of education sessions. IFPA’s VP of global relations Jessica Keller kicked off with an overview of global fresh produce trade flows into Asia and key consumer trends. Ben Hoodless, chief executive of IFPA A-NZ, then led a two-part session on fresh produce marketing and merchandising featuring global and Asia perspectives. Sharing their insights were Patrick Vizzone, chair-elect of IFPA, Adele Ackermann of ClemenGold International, Claudia Soler of Frutas de Chile-Cherry Committee, and Felicia Tao of DFI Lucky.
Tom Stenzel, director of the CEA Alliance, chaired a session exploring the future for vertical farming in Asia with Jessica Fong of Common Farms, Lionel Wong of Upgrown Farming Asia, and Marc Oshima of Oshima Good Food. Andrew Sim of law firm Baker McKenzie presented a workshop on ‘Protecting your IP in Asia’ with Alanna Rennie, chief legal officer of Bloom Fresh, and David Smith, general manager of Bloom Fresh China.
Asiafruit Showcase: fresh produce innovations
At Asiafruit Showcase, Asia Fruit Logistica exhibitors presented fresh produce innovations for business in Asia. Duncan Aust of AgroFresh outlined how its post-harvest technologies are empowering fresh produce businesses at every step of the value chain. Rijk Zwaan’s Heleen Van Rijn-Wassenaar explained how branding can unlock the potential of the sweet pepper market in Asia. Sekoya’s Hans Liekens shared insights from the European blueberry category on how to create value through product differentiation. He also demonstrated the company’s innovative new blueberry dispensing machine to grow snacking sales.
Statistics Handbook launch
Visitors to Asiafruit Knowledge Centre were also able to pick up the first copies of the Asiafruit Statistics Handbook 2024. The annual statistical guide to Asia’s fresh fruit and vegetable business is produced by Fruitnet and features expert analysis of all the latest trends in trade across 12 different markets.
Asia Fruit Logistica returns to Hong Kong next year, taking place on 3-5 September 2025 at AsiaWorld-Expo.
Business Meet-Ups
Asia Fruit Logistica’s roadshow of Business Meet-Ups kicks off with the Chile Summit on 22 October 2024 in Santiago. In 2025, the roadshow heads to Mumbai for Fresh Produce India (organised by Fruitnet) on 3-4 April. Ho Chi Minh City is the next stop, with Fresh Produce Vietnam on 13-14 May, followed by the Bangkok Business Meet-Up in Thailand on 24-25 June. Asia Fruit Logistica’s China Business Meet-Up will take place in Guangzhou on 8-9 September 2025.
Fruitnet is publishing a series of reports from sessions at Asiafruit Knowledge Centre over the coming months.
