4th edition of Freskon sees a solid start
Freskon serves as a meeting point for producers, international retail groups, as well as domestic and international transporters of fresh fruit and vegetables, turning Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre into a reference point for the sector in South-Eastern Europe from 26 to 28 April.
From left to right, the publisher – director of Froutonena magazine, Mr Panagiotis Orfanos, the deputy general manager of TIF – HELEXPO, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis and the project manager of Freskon , Mrs Tonia Nikolaidou
This year’s trade show features the 1st International Grape Congress, to be held on 26 April, with the participation of acclaimed speakers from Greece and abroad. All the latest trends concerning the cultivation and post-harvest behaviour of grapes will be presented at the grape congress. In fact, at the Digital Farming section, there will be extensive discussion of technological developments that affect grape cultivation and an announcement of all new grape cultivars currently being grown at the global level.
FreshCon Market will be held once more, in cooperation with ‘Froutonea’ magazine, focusing on the connection between production and retail sales. The main goal of FreshCon Market is to bring large supermarket chains into direct contact with professionals of the agricultural sector, creating ideal conditions for direct agreements.
Participants include the Masoutis, Kritikos, Metro, Chalkiadakis and Discount Markt supermarket chains from Greece, the Fantastico and T-Market retail networks from Bulgaria, ATB Market, Brusnichka, Tavria V and Velyka Kyshenya supermarkets from Ukraine, Mega Image from Romania and Dionis from Belarus.
The central fresh fruit and vegetable procurement unit of the Metro group seated in Valencia, Spain and serving 18 countries in Europe and Asia will also be participating in FreshCon Market.
“Freskon is a major multi-event, expanding beyond the country's borders thanks to its internationalisation. It has no equivalent in the broader region of South-Eastern Europe”, noted the Deputy General Director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, during today's Press Conference held in view of the opening of the trade show tomorrow. He stressed that, being held for the fourth time, Freskon boasts all the features of an institution.
In turn, Mrs Tonia Nikolaidou, the Director of Freskon, noted that Greek companies participating in Freskon can increase the number of their suppliers and boost their sales, adding that the trade show concentrates the highest percentage of distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables in the country.
In turn, Mr Panayiotis Orfanos, the publisher and director of ‘Froutonea’ magazine, stressed that Freskon is gradually becoming an established institution and is being embraced by Greek fruit and vegetable distributors. He noted that Greece is becoming a centre for the supply of fruit and vegetables to all the Balkan countries. “All of Europe is turning towards Greek fruit”, he stated characteristically.
The 4th Freskon was be inaugurated by the Alternate Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr Ioannis Tsironis.
It is noted that when Freskon ends, fruit and vegetables from the trade show will be collected and delivered to the charity organisation “The Smile of the Child”.