Africa's Big Seven signs up Joburg Market

The market, described as Africa's largest fresh produce market, is exhibiting at this year's show to take advantage of the excellent networking opportunities available at the show and showcase its capabilities to the ever-growing international food and beverage market.

The Joburg Market plans to reinvent itself as a worldwide, one-stop online food hub providing diverse products such as fish, poultry and red meat, in addition to its staple offering of fresh fruit and vegetables. The company will ostensibly become the first market in Africa to introduce an internet website-based online ordering system offering overseas customers the ability to buy fresh produce online, with all grading, pricing and shipping procedures completed without having to physically visit the market.

The simultaneous hosting of the Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) alongside AB7 means that exhibitors and visitors can easily cross over between shows for an even broader perspective of the products and markets available for trade.

In addition, Agrifica's ‘Food Security for Africa' conference takes place alongside the show. Themed “Africa as the potential solution to the World Food Crisis,” this two-day event includes topics such as global food demand and supply trends; investor interest in food production in Africa and prospects for commercial agriculture in Africa.

Seven shows

• Agri-Food for food producers and manufacturers
  
• FoodBiz Africa for food services and equipment
  
• DrinkTech Africa focusing on beverage processing and packaging machinery, ingredients, production equipment and technology
  
• FoodTech Africa for food production, processing and packaging
  
• InterBake Africa for baking industry equipment, processes and ingredients
  
• Pan Africa Retail Trade Exhibition which showcases food, beverage, merchandise and FMCG
  
• Retail Solutions Africa, which specialises in technology for retailers

According to John Thomson, MD of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of AB7, a growing number of local, regional and international companies are using the show as a business-networking platform. “With visitors from 45 countries from around the globe attending the 2009 show, exhibitors have a forum to expand their contact base of suppliers and buyers. We believe it is the only trade exhibition with a genuine gateway into Africa. Farmers, manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers and everyone else in between can meet at one venue. Our business match-making programme enables pre-profiled, pre-focused traders to interact face to face in sector-specific meetings.”

For more information on AB7 Expo, contact Lineke Fleischer, exhibition manager on +27 (0) 11 783-7250 or e-mail . For more info on the conference go to www.agrifica.co.za.