Heavy snow and delayed flights failed to stop a record-breaking 53,000 trade visitors from 130 countries descending on the German capital last week for legendary trade exhibition Fruit Logistica.
Visitor figures were up six per cent from last year, when 50,000 people from 125 countries attended the event. Exhibitors rose from 2,283 from 78 nations in 2009, to 2,302 from 71 countries this year. Some 89 per cent of this year’s exhibitors came from outside Germany.
Dr Christian Göke, COO of Messe Berlin GmbH, said: “Fruit Logistica is clearly a premium product for Messe Berlin. Hardly any other industry worldwide has a trade fair with such an indisputable market leadership position as Fruit Logistica. This is where all trading partners across the global value chain come together.”
Taking place alongside the global produce event was the third edition of Freschconex, the only European trade fair for the fresh produce convenience sector. This event attracted 71 exhibitors from 15 countries who presented their products and services and were highly satisfied with the outcome of the trade fair.
Amongst the exhibitors were South Africa’s Karsten Group, who participated for the second year. The Karsten Group shared a stand with Hadiklaim, the date suppliers from Israel.
“Fruit Logistica is definitely not the place where the biggest commercial deal of the year will be put together; but it does present an environment to develop new contacts and strengthen relations through personal contact,” says Karsten UK’s Herman Engelbrecht. The Karsten delegation included amongst others Piet Karsten (snr) Pieter Karsten, Kobus Jonas, Cobus van der Merwe, Piet du Plessis, JC Folscher and Riaan Botha.
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