SIAL Paris; huge,tasty and innovative – 5

BURAK BALABAN, FOREIGN TRADE EXECUTIVE, GURME SEMI DRIED VEGETABLES:
In general way, I can say that SIAL Paris 2012 Exhibition had its positive outcomes. We, as Gurme Semi Dried Vegetables, identifîed our expectations, and planned a strategy according to our needs. And as a result, Gurme came across with no surprises.
First of all, I would like to remind you that Turkey has recently been raised to Investment Grade by Fitch rating agency. This event could have both positive and risky results. Notice that most developed countries under go serious economical restrictions while Turkey receives upgraded grades. I said risky results, because from now on every sector from Turkey, especially Turkish Food Sector, have to be more careful about their foreign trade policy. On the other hand, awareness and determination in the Food Sector is promising. So, I believe if we can sustain increasing our efforts while paying attention to global developments, we might be able to climb higher and higher since the hard-work and quality are the leading engines of success.
ERTAN KUPCU – BALABAN GIDA:
Every year the visitor numbers are decreasing. But these kinds of exhibitions are the meeting places with your existing customers. If you can find one or two new qualified customers, you are lucky.
Parallel to economical problems in Europe and USA plus political problems at our very near neighbors, our short term plans are very conservative. But on long term Turkey will be the land of opportunities in its region.
HUSEYIN POLATKAN, FOREIGN TRADE MANAGER, BESLEN MAKARNA:
Actually the fair was successful. We meet new clients, new people and found opportuni” like all fairs. I, myself, like organizers of Sial and others Anuga, Gulfood. They are really making their jobs very well. On the other hand, I can not say good things for future. Because due to incneasing cost of wheat in the world, I have unfortunately some doubts forecasting the food sector for Turkey or the world. I do not think that next years will be very good years. As long as the cost continued like that, the supplier will have to stop their investments. I am afraid the sector will go back to its position in 2010, 2011.
RASIM UCAR, MARKETING DORECTOR, OLIVOS OIL INDUSTRIES:
The attendance of SIAL exhibition was very efficient for the sake of our company. As we aimed about the performance of our company for this season, to take into consideration of the exhibition’s interest to our company, and prosperous run of the season, I can define this season as the rising of OLIVOS OIL INC. SIAL has been a very flourishing experience for us, as it has been every time we attended. According to my evaluation of the SIAL PARIS 2012, there were many participants from all over the world and professionals coming from various countries such as Norway, China, USA especially Italy and Spain which were the leader countries in the olive oil sector, visited our stand and we received very laudatory comments from them.
On the other hand, like every other year, there were very significant and rapid responses from customers this year since we expect there will be in a boom in Turkish olive oil production and olive yield. 2013 is projected to house a considerable increase in on going trades and definitely will be the productive year for us.
MUMIN AKGUN, GENERAL MANAGER- KARDELEN KESTANE:
The Sial Paris 2012 show was indeed a fruitful organization comprehending a vast number of new comers and key-accounts visitors compared to Sial Paris 2010 in which we have had felt the existence of a global economic crisis thoroughly. This year the crisis effect seemed to have swept away leaving behind a hopeful and enthusiastic market. Naturally, we had our own share from this optimistic environment. Due to the nature of our products making instant deals at exhibitions is almost impossible, however we have had new contacts from various target markets which we believe will not initially turn into affairs but will yield in a medium run. Exhibitions are like investment; the return is yet no earlier than a medium time scale. One of the most impressive effect of the exhibition was our correlation attempts and opportunities with West European candied chestnuts producers and chestnut peeling companies. A correlation with colleague companies is yet the best investment itself as chestnut is a fresh fruit that is difficult to obtain due to climatic and phytosanitary reasons and facing a difficulty is inevitable whereas an international market connection might be the only resolution. On the other hand, western European chestnuts involved companies of third to fifth generations now take our company Ilka Şekerleme and our main brand Kardelen as a legitimate player in the sector.
Our predictions for the 2013 food industry in Turkey is partially cloudy as the energy input costs have increased absurdly and irrelevantto world energy prices. Food industry is a labor and energy intensive sector. However, we have a strong exchange currency regime where exports are marginally subvene. We believe that the 2 factors will just oppose and balance the sector leaving the rest to the hands of the entrepreneurs; dynamic companies will win and stagnant companies will not. The world food market is yet a different perspective; despite the economic crisis and deteriorating economies food is essential and those countries with heavy industrial revolution traits keep their costs AND margins under control. The developing country members however will face difficulties in predictions.
The uncertainty sometimes is the worst enemy of enterprises where taking no action becomes the action itself. We wish that 2013 will be a fruitful, successful year for every capable company in any given country.
SELCAN DEMIRCI, MEMBER OF THE BOARD, DEMKO DEMIRCI KONSERVECILIK:
During SIAL 2012 we were able to meet a lot of new people from all over the world, who were interested in our products. It has been our pleasure to welcome them all and we hope that we may have the opportunity to start working with them.
With the economical crisis around the world a few countries have been unable to produce the estimated volumes and some factories were out of business. As a result, we think that Turkey’s export chances are higher than usual. We are hoping to export more of our new fomnulas of  Mayonaise & Ketchup.
AYSEN BOREK, SALES AND EXPORT DIRECTOR, MISKOS HELVA:
The show was good and productive for us. We have met with buyers from all over the world we can say. Besides Europe, N. Africa and Mid-east, as well Far-eastern and American buyers were interested in our products at Sial Paris 2012.
As in every sector, the world is becoming so small to reach but very big to earn. Food sector is main of all the others. In 2013, we will be attending more international shows to show our current clients our presence and reach our target clients. We, as Turkish confectionery sector, have to work a lot with our eyes wide open.
MEHMET CAN ERGINSOY, FOREIGN TRADE MANAGER, KEMAL KUKRER CO.:
Although there is an economical crisis all over the world, the Sial Paris exhibition was very successful. We had many contacts with the buyers of signifıcant retailers and importers. This was the initial contact of course and the real success of the exhibition for our company will be seen more accurately after we finalize our negotiations.
We were unlucky that this year the exhibition and the Eid-al Adha overlapped and majority of the Arabic buyers left the exhibition earlier. As is known the Middle Eastern countries are the major importers of the Turkish Foods for the last two years. As Kemal Kukrer we are expecting a steady growth in Turkish Food exports and also our company growth in foreign countries. In Sial Paris the second biggest hail belonged to Turkish producers and I observe this as a sign of bright future.