This year it will be taking up the whole of the whole Kortrijk Xpo fair complex and representing the whole chain of the sector from growing to processing and marketing. In a market that is characterised by extremes with record high prices last season and anticipated very low prices for the season ahead, INTERPOM | PRIMEURS is without a shadow of doubt the specialist platform par excellence for keeping abreast of all the latest developments taking place in the market. It is no coincidence that INTERPOM | PRIMEURS has grown over the years into the leading forum that attracts the presence of almost 18,000 professionals each time. At the fair, they discover an impressive assortment of products and innovations for their different sectors and meet up with colleagues and suppliers from here at home as well as abroad. In the comfort of an extremely refined and professional ambiance. INTERPOM | PRIMEURS 2014 guarantees its visitors professional, specialist information and hospitality so that they are guaranteed an interesting and enjoyable visit!
Anticipating the next trends
Everybody is fully aware that the potato market is often subject to considerable fluctuations, but nobody could have imagined that it would be subject to such extreme fluctuations as it has been over the past three years. After record high prices in the open market during the 2012-2013 season, and the roller coaster ride during the 2013-2014 season, we are seeing prices hitting rock bottom at the start of the 2014-2015 season. High yields of crops grown on an increasing surface area throughout the whole of the European potato growing areas is the reason behind this. We should not lose sight of the fact that there has been a sharp increase in the share of contractual production for the fresh market as well as for the processing market in recent years which means that the impact of the volatile open market on the global potato situation in the Benelux has not been too drastic. There is a long way to go until the end of the season and we will not be able to make a final assessment of the situation until June. Although a lot of visitors and exhibitors at INTERPOM | PRIMEURS are already busy forecasting the contractual market trends for the forthcoming season.
INTERPOM | PRIMEURS 2014 takes over the whole Kortrijk Xpo complex.
INTERPOM | PRIMEURS – a manifestation of uninterrupted growth. Yet again this year, our trade fair can boast growth in both the number of exhibitors as well as the surface area of the trade fair: 270 exhibitors (+ 4.6%) from 15 countries showcasing products and services on an indoor surface area of 31,500m² (+ 12.6%) which covers all six halls of the Kortrijk Xpo trade fair complex. This trade fair plays an important role as a meeting platform and source of innovation for innovative technologies for the potato, vegetable and fruit sector chain, and is the ideal location for exchanging information. Thanks to the complete range of products and services, the strong specialisation, the professional character and the friendly ambiance at the fair, the potato, vegetable and fruit sector chooses Kortrijk Xpo for its biannual rendezvous time after time. INTERPOM | PRIMEURS is can count on the great numbers of loyal visitors that include growers, employees, processers, packers, purchasers and traders of fresh and processed potatoes, vegetables and fruit from all over Europe and also increasingly from other continents. The last edition opened its doors to a total of 17,678 visitors (+25.7% compared to 2010) from 36 countries around the world. And the organisers are expecting large crowds of visitors again this year.
‘TOGETHER FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH’ is the theme of the event A large number of projects have been set up in the potato and vegetable sector around ‘sustainability’. This is crucial if we want to provide good quality, tasty products for the next generation. The organizers of INTERPOM | PRIMEURS are aiming to raise awareness of what sustainable growth entails by presenting concrete case studies of companies in the sector. Under the banner of the event’s theme of ‘together for sustainable growth’, exhibitors can present what their company has done with respect to one or more of the 3 pillars of sustainability: ‘People, Planet & Profit’. These companies’ projects will be incorporated in a ‘sustainability route’ on the exhibition floor, underlining the importance of new insights and innovations to ensure sustainable growth in the sector. Walking this route will undoubtedly yield a wealth of inspiration for your own projects.
INNO POTATO AWARD 2014: prizes presented during the fair
The third edition of the Inno Potato Award is a competition designed to reward the introduction of innovations in agricultural businesses. For their colleagues in the sector, three Flemish and three Walloon potato growers present the innovations they have developed and applied in their own enterprises. During INTERPOM | PRIMEURS, the project are presented through interviews and video reports. A professional jury has already awarded 50% of the total number of marks to be given, and visitors at INTERPOM | PRIMEURS will decide the remaining 50% during the first two days of the event. Prizes will be presented in Hall 6 at Kortrijk Xpo at 12pm on Tuesday 25 November, in the presence of the regional Ministers of Agriculture Mrs. Joke Schauvliege and Mr. René Collin.
Meer information about the contest, the participants and their innovation projects: www.innopotato.be
Three seminars on Monday 24 November
In addition to a broad range of exhibitors from different sectors and the innumerable networking opportunities, INTERPOM | PRIMEURS also proposes three interesting and varied seminars that will be held on Monday 24 November. Dr. Annette Förschler (QS), Brigitta Wolf (Vegaplan) and Ir. Bert Waterink (VVA/VVAK) will discuss quality systems that can be exchanged among the potato, vegetables and fruit sector for instance. Fedepom & Belgapom will also be holding a panel discussion with Sascha Siegel (Eurex) and Edwin Burgers (DCA) on the theme of ‘is the futures market an instrument for spreading risk in trading and processing ?’. Another theme to be covered will be ‘Generic promotion of potatoes and potato products’ that will be presented by Katrien De Nul (Vlam) and Luc Roisin (Apaq-W). Kate Cox of the British Potato Council (the British equivalent of Vlam & Apaq-W) will also present her own British promotional campaign and explain the impact it has had. And finally, Romain Cools (Belgapom) will present the brand new promotional campaign ‘Belgian potato products from the land of the ‘frite’. The Belgian potato processing sector has recently become the biggest exporter of frozen chips in the world. Belgian potato products are reaching an increasing number of consumers on all five continents.
The seminars will take place in the Kortrijk Xpo Meeting Centre (adjoining Hall 6) and there is no admission fee for visitors to the trade fair or for exhibitors and there is no need to register in advance.
Dynamic meeting platform for a growth market
With its home base in Kortrijk (Xpo), INTERPOM | PRIMEURS is held in the heart of a dynamic and expanding potato, vegetable and fruit market. This is the perfect place to make new contacts and reinforce links with colleagues and suppliers in Belgium and abroad, to exchange ideas and share information in a sector with a rosy future. Note the date in your diary straight away!
INTERPOM PRIMEURS is an initiative of Belgapom, the official trade association of the Belgian potato growers and processors. The practical organisation is in the capable hands of Kortrijk Xpo.
