Networking with others in your industry will benefit your business
These FREE sessions are held in Auckland about every 2 months to give the food industry an opportunity to network and create links between those attending. Complimentary great coffee and cold drinks are served from 4pm and the presentations start about 5pm.
If you would like to attend the next session please contact Cathy McArdle by email cathy@mcfoodies.co.nz or phone (09) 294 6732.
An immigrant's story - Fab Foodie Forum, 29th November 2009
There was a great turnout of the final Fab Foodie Forum for 2009 so some serious networking and business card swapping took place. The small food manufacturers and importers present took the opportunity to gain feedback from potential consumers about how they could improve their products. The many contract manufacturers there also mingled with the two food science/technology professors who attended, as well as the consultants and ingredient & packaging suppliers.
The speaker for the session was Vladan Vukovic, an immigrant from Serbia who come to New Zealand earlier in the 2000's. Vladan gave an interesting and entertaining presentation about his life before and after the Balkans War and his recent time in Christchurch with his family.
Since in NZ Vladan has created 3 prongs to his successful business, Wimpex Ltd. The first is a range of flavoured cream powder products which he sells mainly in the South Island under the Foody brand. He also provides contract filling and packing services to those seeking powder blending or packing of products using form-fill sealing machines.
The potentially most exciting aspect of Wimpex's business is the distribution agreement he has for flexible film packaging made in China by a German-owned company. As the product is very high quality but significantly cheaper than any available in NZ, Vladan is confident of picking up even more orders from large customers.
Those interested in contacting Vladan should phone (03) 377 4376 or 021 145 0616 or email vladan@wimpex.co.nz
Fab Foodie Forum held on August 5th in Auckland
Dieter Adam from Traffic New Zealand gave a informative presentation entilted "The New Zealand Bio-actives Innovation Network: A pilot study in joint product development".
This was followed by Barry Bloomfield from Brand Architects who kindly stood in for the advertised speaker, Chris Caiger (who was too sick to attend). Barry presented a slide show about the evolution of the some of the exciting brands he's been involved in developing.
The session also involved some informal mingling amongst attendees - including representatives from small, medium and large food manufacturers, ingredient supply companies, consultants, brand owners, food tech teachers and a range of other interesting people.