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John Giles, a market research consultant and the divisional director at Promar International, a leading UK-based agri food supply chain consulting firm, gives a sneak peek about emerging future sources of supply for UK buyers

Your presentation at LPS15 focus on a market analysis of increasingly important potential sources of supply. It include Ethiopia among others. Why Ethiopia in particular?

John Giles (JG): The idea is to present something different. We all know probably quite a bit about the likes of Chile, Turkey, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt as suppliers. I want to move away from the familiar suspects and look at lesser-known countries around the world as an educational guide.

Ethiopia, is deliberately-chosen country of which people will have some sense, but probably won’t know a great deal, yet it is becoming more influential and important. It can produce a wide range of produce – a combination of fruits and vegetables – it is known for some products and some participation in international markets.

Expectations filled the air as one of the biggest chemical companies in the world, Arysta LifeScience, launched a fungicide for the control of Powdery mildew and botrytis and an insecticide for the control of all major insects mainly aphids, thrips, whiteflies, mealy bugs and hoppers and a miticide.

Time almost audio recorded voice of Mr.Richard Gitonga, the Regulatory and Development Manager-East Africa asked, Are you concerned by the ever increasing threat of resistance build up on fungicides and insecticides? Are you concerned of scotching flowers and leaving residues? Are you concerned of WHO class of your choice of product? Do you want to achieve your goals of IPM farming? Each of these questions received a resounding “yes” from the growers in attendance. “Today I stand in front of you to offer you solutions, Fungaflor, Teppeki and Kanemite”, he said

Corporations often need to exhibit at simultaneous trade shows in different localities and for different reasons. They may even have two trade show exhibits in the same city at the same time. Going one step further, a company may even have two separate trade show exhibits at the same trade show. Flower suppliers are an example of a companies exhibiting at two trade shows. Why does this happen?

Quite simply, each trade show appearance has a different objective. One trade show exhibit concentrate on new lead generation, while the other trade show display’s focus on new product launches. Even though these trade shows differ, message needed should be consistent in presenting their corporate brand. Trade show visitors may have a different agenda for attending each trade show, but the corporate message must remain consistent and easily identified with the corporate DNA.

Every aspect of trade show exhibit presence also must match up with company promotional materials, advertising, public relations, online marketing, website and direct mail. Companies lose identity when they dilute their image with mixed messages. Marketing pros say the golden rule is to stay true to your corporate message, reinforce the brand, and let everything else follow suit.

The fourth edition of the Kenyan based flower exhibition IFTEX ended last with good results for all participating companies. Although less international flower buyers attended the show, the quality of visitors was high resulting in a good overall outcome. Overall, 223 exhibiting companies and 2,778 participants attended the three day fair that was held in the Oshwal Center in Westlands, Nairobi.

The expo was opened by Kenya’s First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta. In her speech while opening the expo she said,“I wish to reassure all the consumers of our highly acclaimed flowers that the country continuously strives for responsible and safe production of cut flowers. We also strive to protect and conserve the natural environment and promote the welfare of all farm staff for sustainability”.

Rhodos takes center-stage at IFTEX 2015

In the Best Flowers Quality Awards for Breeders under the category of Roses, the Platinum Award was clinched by De Ruiter East Africa Ltd with the standard rose “Rhodos”. De Ruiter East Africa’s red rose Rhodos, took center-stage during this year’s IFTEX with elaborate displays and much attention from show visitors. Rhodos is a premium rose with a clean red hue and good shape. The rose enjoys significant market presence and is currently regarded as one of the best reds out of Africa. Rhodos has an average stem lenght of 80cm and above, and a vaselife of up to 15 days. It grows a headsize of average 5cm at 1700 altitude.