A delegation of companies from Tucuman participated in the 25th edition of the World Food Moscow, thanks to the support of the Institute for Productive Development of Tucuman (IDEP). The World Food Moscow fair was held in the Russian capital between September 12 and the 15.
1,500 exhibitors from around the world participated in this year's edition. In total, there were 63 countries that offered products from 12 sectors. The Vicente Trapani, Citromax Diagonal Citrus, SA Veracruz, and San Miguel companies participated in the fair and shared Tucuman's exhibition pavilion. The All Lemon seal of quality was also present at the fair. FGF Trapani also participated but had its own stand. Meanwhile, Citrusvil, Pablo Padilla, and La Patria participated in the fair as visiting companies.
The Minister of Productive Development for the province and President of IDEP, Juan Luis Fernández, who headed the delegation at the World Food Moscow, stressed that local entrepreneurs had begun to shape trade agreements for the next campaign: "Russia accounts for 15% of Tucuman's sales of fresh lemon abroad. Consequently, being in this exhibition makes a difference and entrepreneurs know it, that's why they rely on the IDEP to be able to participate in it."
Bernabé Padilla, fresh fruit trade manager at Citromax, said that Russia was a difficult market and that this fair was an excellent opportunity to visit customers. It is the most important country for Argentine lemon, behind Europe, so it is critical to have a continued presence in it, he said.
"Unlike other fairs, that encompass the market of an entire continent, the World Food Moscow fair focuses on the Russian market, taking into account its cultural and geographical characteristics," said Lucia Gundlach, coordinator of the Export Promotion Area at IDEP and the person in charge of the trade mission in Russia. She then added, that this fair was attended by more than 30,000 visitors each year: 50% of which had the intent of finding goods and services for their business, 40% that were purchase decision makers, and the remaining 10% were made up of the general public.
Paul Ibarreche and Roberto Nicolas, external consultants and marketing specialists for All Lemon, said their goal was to be perceived as a seal of quality by customers, supermarket chains, traders and consumers. They said the linkage to the IDEP was key in this instance, to participate in international fairs and to position the seal and all the companies that made up All Lemon.
"This fair serves to strengthen the bond with our customers and to get to know service providers and supermarkets," said Fernando Negroni, from San Miguel. Russia accounts for 20% of this company's sales of fresh lemon.
Ramiro Sanchez and Sergio Davalos (responsible for Diagonal Citrus) and Miguel Paz Posse (a union delegate for COTA) said their clients had expressed their desire to do business. This was the second time the company had participated in the Russian fair.
The next edition of World Food Moscow will be held from September 11 to the 14, 2017 in the Russian capital.