"Tasting the future with Anuga" or a place where students find an internship in food companies

The food market is expanding, more new and newer products are developed every year and the variously of choice for a customer in the supermarket becomes wider. On top of that, as the world gets globalized over the years and this process is almost unavoidable, we can observe local companies targeting on the export of goods and cooperation with prospective partners on the international market.

Having that in mind, I thought of looking for an opportunity to get more experience in the field of international market relations, so when deciding on an honors program in the Saxion University of Applied Science I went for Export Expertise course.

Before I tell my impression about the fair itself, I would like to compliment Export Expertise’s supervisors and organizers for such intensive and full-content activities we do and events we can participate in. If you are engaged in Honors Programm you can really express what you want to learn in the course and which topics you find interesting for yourself, which is indeed taken in the consideration and I fairly value that.

In my article, you would probably notice a lack of concrete details about the production and specialties of companies, presented at the fair, but since finding out more about companies' export strategies was a part of my honors program that day I would like to mainly focus on this and a few other topics.

The objectives of this article are:

• Introduce three unique, not yet world-wide known food companies and their export possibilities
• Explain why such trade fairs are the perfect place to find a company for internship or thesis's

So, getting back to the Anuga Fair, I would say that when I entered one of the blocks of the huge business exhibitor center, my jaw hit the floor. I cannot estimate explicitly how many companies took part in the fair but you could definitely find enterprises and experts from almost all existing countries in the world. We went through a couple of exhibition halls, presented in Anuga, starting with Organic Market and Innovation Show right to the Culinary stage and even Wine Special workshop. We were lucky enough to accidentally enter the place of the event exactly through the section with lovely pastries and desserts and couldn't help avoiding such an eye-catching performances of food companies.

I was pleased to learn more about Belgium food group Vandermoortele, which attracted me with their welcoming atmosphere at the stand and certainly appetizing pastries and sweets. As a leading European food group, Vandermoortele's headquarters are also located in the Netherlands and everyone can experience a special shop atmosphere in Zeewolde and Brussum. Since there are only two international locations of Belgian brand, for now, I think it would be a great opportunity to try entering the Eastern European market, considering European lifestyle and value for traditions. Vandermoortele is a reputable brand with its own special story with , I would say, a cozy native impression from the brand since we are all children deep inside and we like to let ourselves enjoy super-unhealthy desserts with a morning coffee some day. They indeed aim for expanding, and now represent a clear message to the customers and future lucky partners.

   Next unique company, which I feel like mentioning, has almost got me attached to their product since I have never tried anything so special and delicious as Hankootea. "Ujeon Gamro is truly the cup of art "- claims South Korean brand, which sells a wide range of special grade of green tea. We tried a small sample of something, reminding chai tea latte, but with a certain secret ingredient, making it a completely different drink. Hand harvested tea rarely makes it out of Korea, but hopefully, in the future, we will see it the European markets since it definitely worth it.

Last but not least food company we were introduced to and left impressed by in the fair was German brand Just Spices. We can't ignore a lovely, well-prepared stand with countless types of spices in a catchy packaging. Just spices do a great marketing and entice customers breaking the boundaries in cooking experiments with a wide range of spices they provide with. During the chit talk with Just Spice's representers we figured that they are now only located in Düsseldorf but became quite successful over some time. Now, if they go for entering an international market, it will make this company a great example enterprise for us researching different entering market's strategies and approaches.

Having walked through quite a few halls, where other various and rare products were presented, we took some samples of Vahdam tea, delivered right from Japan, took pictures at the Spanish brand Agro Sevilla, got a small package of humus by Mezete - Jordan and finally we managed to find my beloved Turkish delight generously given as a present by Baklawa. I didn't want to go in depth with every companies description and their future plans, I learned about, but what I didn't want to miss out was the part with identifying Bachelor and Minor students' benefits of visiting global events like Anuga.

So why Anuga is the first event you should put in your agenda for the next year?

Some would come to the fair to find the most appropriate companies to invest in, others would find it useful to learn more about fast growing market industry, and students, who are looking for internship possibilities or topics for thesis's, can walk out from the exhibition pretty much with a contact in hands. Every food group, we talked to, was either a very popular brand in a certain country or a perspective startup looking for new possibilities and employees. The majority of participators will more then welcome you to cooperate in the future, since, as a representer of your native country, you can become a priceless team member, who can open up a new doors for expansion and globalisation. Personal contact, which is made during this kind of fairs are already the next step you undertake, therefore, what you do is just talking to everyone and everything you see on your way, collecting business cards from all businesses, regardless from your current interest, because you never know what to expect from the life and how your plans will turn out. So, again, a personal contact you make, let you continue the further negotiation with a company go easier than a normal process of sending a cover letter without a possibility of introducing yourself in a real life.

All in all, challenge yourself, go talk to companies, tell about yourself and your interest and discover a new prospects for the future. Events like Anuga are the perfect places to do so - really learn how to start executing ( and, of course, enjoy trying food and drinks samples on your way as a nice bonus).