News items

New model for sustainable trade

2020-03-04T09:43:00+00:00July 21st, 2016|Tags: , , , |

Voluntary private standards flourish as a governance tool for sustainable trade, but do they really work? There are serious limitations to these standards, which limit their effectiveness and impact. A joint effort by Utrecht University, CBI and ProFound is re-evaluating the performance of private standards as a governance tool and looking into a new governance model. Last week, Bram van Helvoirt of the Utrecht University presented this joint paper at the International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference, in Lisbon. Bram presented several governance mechanisms that can be used as alternatives: Action, Collaboration, Transformation; the Participatory Guarantee System; and Access and Benefit Sharing. He talked about the challenges to implement these systems in sustainable [Read more]

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Making high quality products for Europe

2016-11-01T16:27:56+00:00June 9th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , , |

ProFound consultant Kasper Kerver prepared ten Ethiopian entrepreneurs for their exports to international markets. He coached honey, pulses and seeds producers on quality and Food Safety Management and what international buyers expect from them. During the training, Kasper Kerver explained international buyers’ specific requirements for high quality products and Food Safety Management. The participants exercised with HACCP planning and received recommendations on their options for certification. Food Safety Management is a critical bottleneck to export honey, pulses and seeds to international markets. Many Ethiopian producers understand that international buyers want ‘high quality’ products, but don’t know exactly what they mean by that. [Read more]

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Dissemination seminar in Tunisia: Olive Oil and the German market

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00May 30th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , , |

Commissioned by the GIZ project Initiative pour la Promotion des Filières Agricoles (IPFA) in Tunisia, Gustavo Ferro landed in Tunis for the Olive Oil Day. He disseminated the main results  of a tailored study on the German market for olive oil and composed the panel of experts. The study was completed in 2015, in collaboration with CBI, IPD and Klaus Duerbeck Consulting. It is available online on the CBI website. The Olive Oil Day (25 May) was attended by more than 45 participants, mainly composed of olive oil companies. Gustavo Ferro and other sector experts, importers and institution representatives engaged in a discussion on the opportunities and [Read more]

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Market Orientation Training at Vitafoods

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00May 30th, 2016|Tags: , , , |

ProFound consultants Bert-Jan Ottens and Jesse Bloemendaal visited Vitafoods 2016 to give a Market Orientation Training to Pakistani and South African producers of natural ingredients. In classroom trainings, the companies drafted their market entry strategy. They learned to make an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. The companies also received training on obtaining market information so they can identify opportunities and threats on the European market. ProFound also showed the participants how natural ingredients are used and sold on the European market by visiting retail outlets. In the last days of the training, participants visited the trade fair Vitafoods to validate their market entry strategies. At the fair, they met with potential [Read more]

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What’s new in cosmetics

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00May 20th, 2016|Tags: , , , |

ProFound caught up with the latest trends for natural ingredients at in-cosmetics fair, in Paris. We saw that natural and performance are still key to the industry, and product launches are booming. Cosmetic manufacturers are always interested in new natural ingredients, which were presented at the fair. Producers are also using existing natural products in new ways: in new applications for existing products or processing natural ingredients into completely new functional or active ingredients. Brands continue to find inspiration for cosmetics in food ingredients. Think of a youth-activating serum that contains chia seed extract. Or an energizing face cream that actually smells like coffee. [Read more]

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Successful participation at in-cosmetics

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00May 6th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , , |

ProFound consultant Robbie Hogervorst travelled to Paris for a very successful in-cosmetics trade fair. Together with CBI expert Andrew Jones, he supported 19 companies from South Africa, Colombia, Peru and Indonesia. They are part of the CBI export coaching programme for SMEs from developing countries. These companies offer a wide range of cosmetic ingredients, from luxurious oils and fragrances to innovative botanical extracts. The in-cosmetics team considered the 2016 edition the best attended ever, and the CBI stand was no exception. The number of business contacts the CBI participants collected exceeded expectations. All nineteen exhibitors were very happy with the quality of their new contacts and will follow [Read more]

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Colombian flower growers prepare to gain share in Europe

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00March 3rd, 2016|Tags: , , , , |

The flower industry in Colombia is expanding its horizon. The USA currently accounts for around 75% of Colombia’s flower exports and still provides plenty of opportunities, but Colombian exporters are keen to supply other markets too. They are mostly interested in China, the Middle East and Europe. ProFound analysed the European market. We focused on the growing demand for hortensia and the topic of sustainability. In two separate studies for CBI/Procolombia and Solidaridad, we identified opportunities for Colombian exporters and provided recommendations. These included learning from European competitors to improve hortensia quality, breeding more and stronger varieties of hortensia, and lobbying [Read more]

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Is Colombian hortensia ready for Europe?

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00February 23rd, 2016|Tags: , , , |

Cut hortensia flowers are gaining momentum on the European market. In a study for CBI and ProColombia, ProFound explored the potential for Colombian hortensia exporters in the Netherlands, France, the UK and Switzerland. Colombia, the largest producer of hortensia for the cut flower market, is looking to expand its exports to Europe. CBI commissioned ProFound to assess the potential of Colombian hortensia in Europe, to facilitate the role of Asocolflores and ProColombia in guiding exporters. We analysed the market potential, competition, buyer requirements and business practices in Western Europe. Although European buyer and quality requirements are very strict, Colombia does have a competitive advantage. The country can [Read more]

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Offsetting carbon emissions in 2015

2019-04-16T14:51:00+00:00February 23rd, 2016|Tags: , |

Because we value sustainability, we offset the carbon emissions of our transport activities every year. We offset our emissions of 2015 by purchasing credits from a cook stove project in Ghana. This project supports the local production of energy-efficient cook stoves and distributes them to low-income households. The new stoves use less charcoal and wood, cook faster, lower carbon emissions and will result in healthier living conditions for the local population.

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Celebrating the success of the Organic Africa Pavilion

2018-02-22T10:31:49+00:00February 18th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , |

We are back to the office after a successful week at Biofach where we organised the Organic Africa Pavilion for nine exhibitors from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Senegal. The African companies took great strides at starting or even expanding their exports to Europe. Several companies received fixed orders at Biofach. In total, the exhibitors landed over 500 business leads, of which 70% represent concrete follow-ups! They presented value-added and speciality products to Biofach visitors, including baobab, honey, cocoa, desert date, neem and coffee. In the coming weeks, the exhibitors will be busy sending product and company information, quotations and samples to the potential [Read more]

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