Quality and safety combined
Held on 18 and 19 September, the 116th Markant Trade Forum impressed attendees with a special area where fruit and vegetable specialist Iberiana celebrated its 25th anniversary and also showcased its portfolio in Hall 1 in Karlsruhe, surrounded by the stands of producers from Spain, Chile and the Netherlands. Moderated by Enrique Clavel who is Managing Director of the Markant subsidiary, two speakers covered different topics relating to fruit and vegetables. Nutrition and fitness expert Boris Schwarz gave an engaging presentation describing a carefully managed diet with fruit and vegetables as one of its main components, while Udo Lampe focused on the subject of "When consumer protection misses the mark". As Managing Director of the Analytica Alimentaria food analysis and safety laboratory, he has been working with Iberiana for many years; their shared goal is to guarantee the quality and safety of fruit and vegetables. Using real examples, Lampe addressed the fact that the temptation to use high-risk cultivation or crop protection agents could be prevented through realistically actionable claims by consumer protection organisations. Compliance with high food safety standards requires a presence on producers' premises and, above all, a responsible, transparent dialogue with all parties involved throughout the value chain.
Moving from the presentations back to the exhibition, face-to-face discussions and the opportunity to easily do business with other Markant partners were among the many benefits enjoyed by industry and retail at the trade fair. One clear signal of the relevance of the autumn event is the fact that, alongside the established companies, almost 50 new exhibitors and a range of start-ups took the opportunity to showcase their products. The emergence of a number of trends could be seen in many of the goods − including sustainable manufacturing or packaging and natural ingredient choices, as well as vegan, vegetarian, free-from and convenience products.
Focus on the POS
Before even entering the trade fair hall, visitors' eyes were drawn to a checkout area. Concepts for optimum category management in the POS area were presented, which have been developed in cooperation with industry, POS- and shopfitters. The result was technically modern solutions that not only encourage impulse buying, but also, thanks to intelligent placement options for key product ranges and checkout goods, also provide structure and simplify handling in the checkout area.
Anyone looking for an original and informative break from their work at the trade fair was also in for a treat: a test course was set up on site to try out a range of e-scooter models from industry partners.
