The 7th edition of IFTEX was very successful, according to all who attended. In every aspect the trade fair was rated as “excellent”. Both exhibitors and visitors were very impressed by this year’s quality and diversity of displayed flowers and creativity of stand building.
The three day event started off by the official opening held in the auditorium of the Oshwal Center in Westlands Nairobi, the place where the exhibition traditionally takes place. The guest of honor this year was the Kenyan Permanent Secretary for Trade, Dr. Chris Kiptoo. He praised all players in the flower industry for their contribution to Kenya’s export economy.
IFTEX was held this year along the newly launched FPA, a trade fair in line of the IFTEX mission, but especially set up for the vegetable, fruit and herb industry of Kenya. For this purpose about 50 growers of fresh produce were exhibiting in Fresh Produce Africa (FPA), the name of this new trade fair, and located in a separate hall adjacent to the IFTEX halls.
“Fresh Produce Africa” or FPA will be a platform for the fresh vegetables and fruits sector of Kenya and other African countries. It is totally new for two reasons: never before a trade fair with this profile has been organized in Africa and never before this concept has been implemented in Africa, a concept where international buyers are being invited to the continent where the product is being grown, as it is custom that producers go to the countries where the product is being sold, according to the organizers.
The extension is a logical result of the developments in the international distribution channels of flowers. More and more flowers are being also sold through big retail chain stores, supermarkets and other mass market channels where also fresh produce is being sold and it is therefore beneficial for exhibitors and visitors of IFTEX to enlarge and diversify the exhibiting product profile in order to attract more international buyers.
Winners of the Competition in the Best Stand Design in the category
Non Perishables were:
Bronze for Afrex/Cargolite, Silver for Panalpina, Gold for Elgon Kenya Ltd and Platinum for Royal Flora Holland. In the category
Perishables winners were:
Bronze for Oserian, Silver for Subati, Gold for Omang & Amor/ Decofresh and Platinum for Fontana/Black Tulip.
Winners of the Best Grower Quality Competition in the category
Other Cut Flowers were:
Bronze for gypshophila Cosmic of Tropiflora (Fontana),
Silver for hydrangea Magical Trophy of Flora Delight Ltd,
Gold for alstroemeria White Pears of Batian Flowers and
Platinum for chrysanthemum Anastasia Green of Utee Estate Ltd (Black Tulip).
In the category Roses the awards went to:
Bronze for the standard rose Beyond Zero of Fontana,
Silver for the garden rose Charming Lady of OSserian,
Gold for the standard rose Crimson Sky of Fontana and
Platinum for the standard rose Tiara of Uhuru Flowers.
