PMA Fresh Connections: China 2018

Richard Owen, Vice President Global Membership and Engagement at PMA is greeting guests and making welcome remarks.

Bian Zhenhu is the President of the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce. He is welcoming guests and happy to see so many international partners in Shenzhen.

Zhai Sen is the Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Entry- Exit Inspection and Quarantine bureau. He is promising that import measures will be simplified and remarking upon organisational changes the AQSIQ will see implemented in the (near) future.

William Verzani is Deputy Director at the US Agriculture Trade Office in Guangzhou. He is hoping to expand relationships by partnering with US trade associations. Imports of US fruits have increased 75% since 2013. 60% of all imported fruits is distributed in the South of China.

Cathy Burns, Ceo of PMA, addresses the crowd with a State of Industry, addressing latest industry, retail and consumers trends.

Patrick Vizzone, Head of Food and Agribusiness at ANZ Bank, is moderating a discussion on the future of retail and E-tail in China's fast developing market. On the panel are Eric Li of Yiguo and Mike Li of JD.com.

Emerson's China and Asia team with in the middle Pete Yu.

Second from right, Cobby Lin from Yumsun. To the left is Jason Xu from SupaFresh.

The team of Shenzhen Kingship. To the right is Ben Li, President of the company. Second from left is Liang Chao, the company's GM. Shenzhen Kingship is working towards launching its own premium cherry and blueberry brand in China.

Eric Li is Vice President Global Sourcing and Alliance at Yiguo, a large importer, distributor and online supplier of fresh produce. In his speech he outlined the currently available different business models for retail.

Mike Li is the Procurement Director for Fresh Fruit & Vegetables at JD.com, a large online retailer in China. The company has seen rapid growth in the last 5 years. 30% of its total sales in fresh foods come from fruit sales.

Discussion on the Future of Retail and E-tail with Mike Li, Eric Li and Patrick Vizzone.

Discussion on the Future of Retail and E-tail with Mike Li, Eric Li and Patrick Vizzone. The audience was interested to know how one can distingish itself in such competitive market environment. According to the speakers no need to worry as the overall market is still growing fast.

Coffee break at the stand of Jiuye, a cold chain and transport service provider.

From left to right, José F.Álvarez A., Juan Antonio Escorcia, Tina Sun of Cydiance, together with Hermann Mecklenburg and Angela Ding.

Mr. Avocado's management team with Jade Shan and John Wang.

To the right, John Moore from Summer fruit Australia together with Zender from Tfresh.

Richard Owen, PMA, is having a conversation with Tommie van Zyl from ZZ2 South Africa.

Drinks reception at PMA Fresh Connections: China.

To the right John Albanese, grower from Australia growing, among other fruits, grapes and mangoes.

From left to right; Manolo Reyes from NatureSweet, Megan Schulz, Guimarra Companies, Sam Manujith from The Avolution and Gary York, Robinson Fresh.

The team of Asia Global, a logistics company from Shenzhen.

Bertie van Zyl together with Piet Prinsloo, both from ZZ2, South Africa.

Winsy Fung, project executive at Guangzhou GIC Conventions and Exhibition Services, the Hong Kong and P.R.C. representative office of the Messe Berlin.

The team of the PMA after the succesful start of Fresh Connections: China. From left to right; Richard Owen, Sahari Dominguez, Siobhan May and Cathy Burns.

Gabriel Figueroa and Corne van de Klundert from Origin Direct Asia, together with Tina Sun from Cydiance.

Lisa Cork from Fresh Produce Marketing. Lisa chaired a meeting in the afternoon titled Get a Premium in China with your Brand and New Varieties.

Ed Treacy is giving a speech together with Dan Sun of HarvestMark about the power of blockchain technology and its use for the fresh produce industry. How can this new technology be used best?

Dan Sun of HarvestMark recommends companies to start thinking now how companies can help to beat inefficiencies in current workflows and how to determine rules on what data one wants to share on the blockhain, and what data to keep private.

Qidong Zhu of Pagoda, John Wang of Lantao and Steve Barnard of Mission Produce are waiting to go on stage to sign a latest agreement on jointly opening a second avocado ripening centre in Southern China.

"We haven't even scratched the service", according to Steve Barnard, refering to China's blooming taste for fresh avos."

John Wang, Lantao, Steve Barnard, Mission Produce, and Qidong Zhu, Pagodao, after succesfully signing an agreeemen to open a second avocado ripening centre in Southern China.

Lu Fangxiao is the President of the China Fruit Marketing Association. Although he admits the industry is facing some structural challenges, including slowing down of the overal growth rate, there are certainly many opportunities to come. Chinese domestic fruit production is also increasing and improving year on year.

Lisa Cork is chairing a session on premium fruit varieties in China and how branding and new varieties can help producers and shippers to generate a premium. On the panel are Qidong Zhu, Pagoda, Jade Shan, Mr. Avocado and Mike Preacher, Domex Superfresh Growers.

Qidong Zhu is General Manager of Commodity Centre at Pagoda, a fruit store chain. He explains that customers have a memory for good taste and then consistent sourcing and new varieties can help building a brands name and recognition.

Jade Shan is the General Manager of Mr. Avocado. The company imports, ripens and distributes avocadoes in China. According to her, demand for high-end lifestyle has increased and is increasing, and imported fruits are becoming a part of people's daily lives.

Mike Preacher is Director of Marketing and Customer Relations at Domex Superfresh Growers.

A number of questions by the audience were asked.

Darren Keating, CEO of PMA Australia-New Zealand is chairing a session on the impact of China's increased domestic production. On the panel are Jae Chun of Driscoll's China and Mau Wah Liu, Chairman of the Board at Joy Wing Mau.

Jae Chun is the Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific at Driscoll's China. Driscoll's started producing locally in China four years ago. The company believes it can supply better and tastier berries than currently available on the Chinese market.

Mau Wah Liu is the founder and currently Chairman of the Board at Joy Wing Mau. He notes that the total fruit industry is, still, growing fast in China. Chinese fruit consumption still lacks behind global consumption per person and can go up to double.

Guests attending PMA Fresh Connections: China are deliberating past lectures and information received.

One of the most popular sessions of the day; Thinking like a Global CEO. Introduced by Richard Owen, moderated by Cathy Burns and discussed by David Marguleas, Sun-World, Tim Riley, The Giumarra Companies, Steve Barnard, Mission Produce and Adrielle Dankier, Nature's Pride.

From left to right, Cathy Burns, CEO of PMA, David Marguleas, Executive Vice-President at Sun-World, Steve Barnard, President of Mission Produce, Tim Riley, President of The Giumarra Companies and Adrielle Dankier, Commercial Director at Nature's Pride. Large questions where discussed, including How to establish a business that crosses boarders? and What is a strategic choice you made and how did you benefit from the change?

Beijing Fruitong with Iris Zhai and Yongchun Chen. The company cooperates with a number of Dutch partners to rol out ripening and cold storage facilities across China.

Cobby Lin from Yumsun together with David Smith.

Entry to the Olé supermarket, first stop of the Retail Tour across Shenzhen organised by the PMA. Olé is a luxury Chinese supermarket and part of the CR Vanguard chain. All visitors are received by the staff of Olé and are given a short introduction to the store.

To the right, Cathy Burns, CEO of PMA. The the left Olé's store manager welcoming the group.

Early crop of Chinese cherries, selling at 27 Euro for half a kilo.

Imported fruits on display at Olé, Shenzhen; in the middle are Belgium Conference pears, to the right imported plums. Fried de Schouwer from US Greenhouse Produce is having a closer look.

Avocado's popularity is growing in China. In the back an info sheet informing about ripeness, colour and taste. These avocadoes are imported from Mexico.

Krystle Dowling from PMA, Tommie van Zyl from ZZ2 from South Africa and Roger Gay from Cocanmex.

Adrielle Dankier from Nature's Pride is documenting the displays.

Staff of Olé are giving free fruit tasting and are trained to informed clients about the fruit's characteristics including origin and ripeness.

Early cherries from China's in special gift packaging.

Jose Antonio Gomez from Camposol together with Roger Gay from Cocanmex from Mexico.

Fresh import fruits on display in Olé Shenzhen.

Gift boxes filled with imported fruits, including Camposol's mangoes and exotic produce from Taiwan.

Gift packaging filled with Chilean grapes. The origin is clearly market on the box.

Gift packaging with two mangoes from Southern China.

Darren Keating, CEO of PMA Australia-New Zealand chats with Sam Manujith from The Avolution (Australia).

Gift box filled with imported nectarines.

Juan Camilo Barrera from PROCOLOMBIA chats with PMA's Richard Owen.

Staff of Olé are trained to give out fruit samples and information. To the left, Cathy Burns, CEO of PMA.

Blueberries and raspberries grown by Driscoll's. Driscoll's has recently launched blueberry production in Mainland China.

Info sheet about ripeness and taste of fresh bananas.

Dole is one of China's largest banana importers and ripening providers.

Produce range by Dole, including several banana varities, guave and fresh pineapples, all marketed under the Dole brand.

Hami melons, popular Chinese domestic fruit variety.

Inspecting the shelves at Olé in Shenzhen. To the right is Piet Prinsloo from South Africa's ZZ2.

Inspecting the shelves at Olé in Shenzhen, in the middle is Sam Manujith from The Avolution from Australia.

Sam Manujith, The Avolution, and Roger Gay, Cocanmex.

Tim Riley, President of The Guimarra Companies, chats with Richard Owen, PMA.

Imported stonefruit on display at Olé in Shenzhen.

Terry Chan, Dole China, in conversation with Jose Antonio Gomez, Camposol.

Staff of Olé is present to inform and promote fresh fruits on sale.

Fresh fruits on display at Olé in Shenzhen.

Fresh fruits on display at Olé in Shenzhen. In the middle are early domestic strawberries from China.

Group's photo of the international crowd that travelled down to Shenzhen to attend PMA Fresh Connections: China and the retail tours organised during the days before the conference.

Cathy Burns, CEO of PMA, is warmy welcomed by the shop manager of Olé Shenzhen.

Entry to a new Shenzhen outlet of Yonghui Superstores. The store was opened last year September.

Entry to a new Shenzhen outlet of Yonghui Superstores. At the entrance are fresh flowers and fruits on display.

Yonghui combines retail shopping with online ordering and at home delivery. In addition, its shops have spaces for lunch and snacks in which food from the supermarket is freshly prepared.

Lunch at Yonghui Superstores, Shenzhen. To the left Manolo Reyes, NatureSweet, Gary York, Robinson Fresh, Fried de Schouwer, Greenhouse Produce and Megan Schulz, Giumarra Companies.

Lunch at Yonghui,Shenzhen. To the right, Richard Owen, PMA and Svatka Kubankova, Robinson Fresh.

Lunch at Yonghui Superstores, Shenzhen. To the right, Ed Treacy, PMA.

Lunch at Yonghui, Shenzhen. A large delegation of growers and shippers from Australia attended Fresh Connections after traveling through China for over a week.

Lunch at Yonghui, Shenzhen. To the right Roger Gay, Cocanmex and Sarahi Dominguez, PMA.

Lunch at Yonghui, Shenzhen. From the right; John Oxford, L&M Companies, Tommie van Zyl, ZZ2, Stephen Barnard, Mission Produce. In the back, Piet Prinsloo, ZZ2.

Peaches by Joy Wing Mau. The company sources fruit internationally and also has different lines of Chinese fruit varieties.

Blueberries by Joy Wing Mau, under the company's Joyvio brand. The company is known in China for it's blueberry production and marketing.

An interested crowd at Yonghui, Shenzhen.

Fresh Chinese domestic fruits on display at Yonghui Superstores.

To the left the store manager of the Yonghui Superstores outlet. The shop opened last year September.

To the left the store manager of the Yonghui Superstores outlet, who is giving a short store introduction. To the right Mabel Zhuang, PMA's representative in China.

Lisa Cork of Fresh Produce Marketing is holding a papaya and having a laugh with Tommie van Zyl, ZZ2, to her right and Clive Garrett of ZZ2 to her left. To the right of the photo is the store manager of Yonghui.

Widespread interest from the crowds at the Yonghui shop.

To the right, David Marguleas of Sun World International.

Entrance to the Yonghui Superstores supermarket in Shenzhen. In the middle television screens that show shots of New Zealand kiwifruit orchards and kiwifruit sorting and packaging processes.

Entrance to the Yonghui Superstores outlet.

Felipe Villamizar of Maria Flowers is happy to see fresh flowers at the entrance of the shop.

Entrance to the Yonghui Superstores shop. In the middle television screens that show shots of New Zealand kiwifruit orchards and kiwifruit sorting and packaging processes.

To the left, Tommie van Zyl from ZZ2 (South Africa) together with his son Bertie van Zyl.

Adrielle Dankier from Nature's Pride is having a laugh.

Group photo at the entrance of Hema Fresh, Alibaba latest 'online to offline' retail concept, combining instore sales and catering with at home delivery in the neighborhood of each shop.

Busy shopping at Hema Fresh in Shenzhen.

Sam Manujith, The Avolution, next to a shelf filled with imported avocados.

Hema Fresh promised at home delivery of online orders within 30 minutes after ordering. The shop is fulled with staff collecting and preparing orders.

Cathy Burns, PMA, together with Richard Owen, PMA.

Staff at Hema Fresh helping out at the fruit and veg department of the shop.

To the right, Krystle Dowling, PMA, and Ed Treacy.

Hema fresh promises at home deliveries within 30 minutes after ordering. The goods are collected in the shop and put in bags, after which they are send to the back of the shop to be prepared for transport along this rail system.

Customers trying out some freshly cut fruits at Hema Fresh.

In less than two years after opening its first shops, Hema has opened 9 shops across China and is planning to open up many more in the near future.

As in the Yonghui Superstores, Hema Fresh also offers clients fresh food and snacks, prepared by onside chef to the liking of the customer.

To the left John Albanese, grower from Australia. Shenzhen is a last stop after a trip through China to explore China's fresh produce industry.

Customers can place online orders and see the store's latest products on offer via Hema Fresh's APP.

Hema's store manager explains how fresh produce is key for the shop's success.

Young crowd enjoying the scene at one of Pagoda's outlets in Shenzhen. Pagoda is a fruit chain store with over 2,800 branches across China.

Pagoda's shop attendees welcoming clients.

Pagoda is the first distributor of Mission Produce avocadoes in China, ripened by Lantao.

Pagoda's shop attendee offering avocado tastings.

Chinese domestic Hami melon on sale at Pagoda.

John Oxford from L&M Companies is trying a bite of domestic Hami melon.

Pagoda's shops are usually small sized stores often conveniently placed close to the customer in local neighborhoods.

Fresh avocado on sale at Pagoda. Pagoda has recently signed a new agreement together with Mission Produce and Lantao to open up a second avocado ripening centre in Southern China.

To the left Steve Barnard, President at Mission Produce, together with Retief du Toit from ZZ2 and Bertie van Zyl, also ZZ2.

Pagoda's shop manager is waving goodbye.

PMA Fresh Connections: China 2018

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