Supermarkets from the United States, Europe, China, the United Arab Emirates and South America have confirmed their participation for industry event PMA Fruittrade Latin America, which will take place in Chile on November 12-13.

The event in the capital Santiago will allow these retailers, as well as importers and other international players across the supply chain, to get closer to fruit growers from the region, seal business deals and help their businesses grow.

"It has been great to see the response of importers from different parts of the world; for them it is an excellent opportunity to meet with growers and exporters to expand their supply portfolios," said Gustavo Yentzen, whose company Yentzen Group is a partner in the event with the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Chilean grower group Fedefruta.

"In this sense, PMA Fruittrade is a top meeting pount for the world's buyers, importers and retailers, who can find synergies and better understand their existing or potential foreign partners," said Yentzen, who is also the owner of www.freshfruitportal.com.

PMA's vice president of global business development, Nancy Tucker, said that for Chilean growers the event represented a chance to "reinforce existing relationships with buyers, find new clients, learn about important industry issues, identify new trends and create business opportunities".

The three event partners said the important supermarkets were not only coming to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, but to establish contacts and businesses with growers and exporters from Chile and the region.

Tucker confirmed the presence to several retailers, including the Kroger, Tesco, Sam's Club, Costco, the Associated Wholesale Grocers, Grupo Pao de Açúcar (Brazil), Ahold (the Netherlands), Spinney's (Dubai), Park & Shop (China) and La Anónima (Argentina).

"We are looking forward to attendance from many other chains," she added.

Fedefruta president Juan Carolus Brown added that the importance presence of retailers would boost the arrival of importers from diverse parts of the world, so that growers could widen their business contacts for direct exports.

To mention just a few products that will be highlighted, growers of grapes, berries, cherries, kiwifruit, apples, pears, stonefruit, bananas and citrus will be present.

"Today's growers and exporters must look to global trade to expand their business. Certainly, global trade is the 'life blood' for Chile, Peru, and other Latin American countries," said Tucker.

Unique event

The PMA is embarking on this event in a bid to replicate the success of U.S.-based event Fresh Summit in Latin America, which every year brings industry players from around the world together to share a wide range of new ideas, innovations, educationa, exhibits and business development opportunities.

However, Tucker highlighted that PMA Fruittrade Latin America would offer something unique in its International Business Roundtable, which was a concept developed by Fedefruta to bring growers and buyers together.

"In this way, people are able to sit and talk face-to-face about business," Tucker said.

How to register

Members of Fedefruta and the PMA will be able to register for free until August 31. After that date, tickets will cost US$300 with the Business Roundtable included or US$200 just for the convention.

"Fedefruta hopes that all its associates make the most of this unique opportunity in Latin America to make their businesses grow and expand their portfolios of importer clients," the grower group said.

- Click here to register for the Business Roundtable and Convention.

- Click here to register just for the convention.

For more on the event, feel free to visit the website, or contact socios@fedefruta.cl, phone number (2) 2 585 4525.

PMA Fruittrade Latin America will take place at Espacio Riesco, Avenida El Salto 5000, Santiago, Chile.

www.freshfruitportal.com