Record breaking exhibition

The assortment of fruits and vegetables kept by stores is playing an increasingly important role in the competition for customers. This fact was reflected by the Fruit Logistica exhibition held in Berlin, which has become bigger and more spectacular than anybody had expected. 42 thousand visitors from 120 countries were registered during the three days of the event, while 1,867 exhibitors from 74 countries participated. – The stands of Hungarian companies were filled with visitors and clients from opening till closing, in the first two days –said Zsuzsa Dobrotka from Agrármarketing Centrum. She expects even more Hungarian exhibitors to attend the event next year. Most innovations came from the fields of convenience and bio products. The main prize for innovation went to a ready to consume vegetable snack in a plastic bag. Besides the winner, there were at least twenty other similar products in plastic bags. Improving the position of fruits and vegetables in retail sales is accompanied by discount stores playing a bigger role. These are expanding their assortments of fresh fruits and vegetables, like traditional, neighbourhood stores. In Germany, consumers are not only interested in low prices, quality is also important for them. This trend had been detected by discount stores and they are adapting by stocking more valuable products. The proportion of bio fruits and vegetables is growing, especially as the term “bio” sounds much like “premium”. According to Wolfgang Rogall, press chief of Fruit Logistica for the last fifteen years, this year’s event was beyond all expectations both in terms of the number of visitors and the size of the exhibition. “More decision makers from companies attended than ever before” – he added.