The Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA’s) Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show is the only annual event in Southern Africa connecting the entire fresh produce supply chain. This year, Fresh Connections: Southern Africa will be taking place from 30 to 31 July in Cape Town at the Century City Conference Centre.
Now in its 9th year, Fresh Connections: Southern Africa has proven itself as a key connecting point for global and regional decision makers from across the entire fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain including retailers, producers, importers/exporters, distributors, wholesalers, service and input suppliers, associations and government officials. The event is a successful combination of conference, exhibition and new connections roundtable.
"I believe that the challenges and opportunities facing the fresh produce industry worldwide are much too promising, or too challenging, for any one organisation to think that it's capable of making progress alone,” says Anouk Sijmonsma, PMA Regional Vice President.
“Building partnerships matters, as does creating global connections, driving produce consumption, and contemplating the sustainability of our business. It is essential for retailers to know and show the end consumer what produce is available. For them to do so, it is imperative that they have direct connections to growers.
“In addition, a big part of our industry is international and international trade can only be accomplished if the correct interpersonal relationships are in place," says Sijmonsma. “Fresh Connections brings people together and enables them to connect - something that is essential in an industry in which success is based on personal connections that cross borders.”
Key topics that will be addressed at the conference include
- Insights into challenges impacting the global produce supply chain
- Consumer demands and sustainable business practices
- Impact of technological disruptions on how we interact and engage in the near future
- What does the promising economic landscape in Southern Africa mean to the produce industry?
- Rethinking business strategies for strengthening existing relationships, penetrating new markets and understanding potential markets.
The speaker line-up
- Ruth McLennan, Fresh Produce and Bakery Commercial Director Southeast Asia, Dairy Farm Group
- Tatjana von Bormann, Programmes and Innovation Lead, WWF South Africa
- Jack Vera, Agricultural Counsellor, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa
- James Lonsdale, Group Sustainability Manager, SPAR Group
- Siglinda Lösch, Group Environmental Manager, Food Lover’s Market
- Johan van Deventer, Managing Director, Freshmark
- Anouk Sijmonsma, Regional Vice President for Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia/New Zealand, PMA
- Rutendo Hwindingwi, Associate Director at Deloitte, South Africa
- Joel Stransky, Springbok rugby legend and business speaker
- Charley Xu, WinChain (Alibaba Company) and Dalian Xiang YeYuan Group (aka GloryTimes)
Siv Ngesi, South African actor-comedian will step up to the podium as master of ceremonies.
Additional networking and career development
The Center for Growing Talent (CGT) will host the following events:
- Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast on 30 July with keynote speaker Caroline Ravenall, former top executive at Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group who now helps business leaders and their teams to embrace change, ignite innovation and turn business into an adventure.
- Young Professionals Breakfast on 31 July for professionals 35 and younger who work in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
- Career Pathways programme will inform top university students about potential careers in the fresh fruit, vegetable and floral industries.
PMA Fresh Connections is part of an international series of events that PMA annually organises and promotes across the world. These events are hosted in Australia New Zealand, China, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and the United States of America.
For more information on the programme and registration visit www.pma.com/FCSouthernAfrica or contact Lindie Stroebel.
For more information:
Lindie Stroebel
PMA Southern Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 79 497 1594
Email: Lstroebel@pma.com