New FRESHCONEX trade fair starting in 2008 to run parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA

Berlin, 07 February 2007.

The market for ready-to-use, ready-to-eat products is booming – especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables. Sales of fresh-cut and convenience products have continued to grow over the past few years in response to an increasing number of single person households, take away meals, changing eating habits and the fact that these products are easy to use and readily available. This trend has continued to move into the foreground at FRUIT LOGISTICA Berlin, the world's leading international trade fair for fruit and vegetable marketing. To give this fresh produce growth market its own platform, FRESHCONEX, a new trade fair focusing on this industry will be launched in Berlin next year. Taking place from 7-9 February 2008, the event will be held parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA at the same exhibition site. FRESHCONEX will focus on ready-to-eat fresh fruit and vegetables that are peeled, sliced, refrigerated and sold in special packages by food retailers, restaurants or vendors. In the vegetable range, these products often come in the form of salads with dressings, meat, cheese, or other protein foods, or with carbohydrates like croutons.

Fresh produce companies working in the fresh-cut and convenience product sector are invited to exhibit at the FRESHCONEX trade fair starting in 2008. FRUIT LOGISTICA exhibitors can look forward to the added potential of FRESHCONEX trade visitors in Berlin.

The range of products on display at the 3-day trade event include fresh-cut and convenience products from the fruit and vegetable segment along with ingredients and additives, packaging and labelling, equipment and technology required for product preparation, safety, and monitoring, point-of-sale technical accessories and vending machines.

The FRESHCONEX trade fair will be accompanied by a sector-specific congress where international buyers, problem solvers, technical equipment suppliers and market analysts will have opportunities to exchange information. Partner for this is Eurofruit Magazine, the world’s leading congress organiser in the fresh produce sector.

FRESHCONEX target groups include food retailers, convenience stores and the vending machine industry. The focus will also be on catering companies, hotel chains and other enterprises across the entire value-added chain.

Registration deadline for FRESHCONEX Berlin 2008 is 31 July 2007. The event will be organised by Messe Berlin GmbH and the FRUIT LOGISTICA team. FRESHCONEX will take place in cooperation with Eurofruit Magazine (London).