Opening Dutch Doors for Ukraine’s Organic-Berry Exporters
Who
Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) • Entrepreneurship & Export Promotion Office (EEPO) • Ukrainian Berries Association (UBA) • Organic Initiative (OI) • ProFound – Advisers In Development
Service
Market Readiness & Compliance, Market Entry
What
Recent geopolitical and logistics disruptions have redirected many of Ukraine’s agri-food exports from traditional Asian and Middle-Eastern routes toward European markets. To stay competitive, frozen-berry producers now need fresh private-label partners, up-to-date compliance know-how and the ability to run their own market-orientation missions.
Where
The Netherlands (Amsterdam; North Holland, South Holland & Gelderland provinces)
When
20 – 23 May 2025
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
From 20 to 23 May 2025 SIPPO will run a Dutch Market-Orientation Mission for three Ukrainian BSOs (EEPO, UBA, Organic Initiative) and up to ten frozen organic-berry SMEs. Blending online coaching with PLMA Amsterdam and targeted visits to co-ops, processors, wholesalers, a retailer and a peer BSO, the programme drills participants in private-label trends, EU traceability and deal-making. Live negotiations, documented follow-ups and a “DIY mission” toolkit will broaden post-invasion export channels, unlock new supply agreements and equip the BSOs to organise future missions on their own.
Did you Know?
Frozen berries now make up over half of all berry imports that pass through Dutch ports, highlighting the Netherlands’ role as Europe’s cold-chain hub.
How did this Project Achieved its Goals?
- Preparation & Training – Targeted webinars on private-label business models, EU compliance and digital meeting tools.
- Immersion – Curated trend walks and meetings at PLMA Amsterdam.
- Company Visits – Seven site visits (co-ops, processors, wholesaler, retailer, peer BSO) with plant tours and live deal talks.
- Follow-up – Documented action points, negotiation support and hand-over of a replication toolkit to the BSOs.
Needs analysis & design
Assessed knowledge gaps of 10 frozen-berry SMEs and 3 business-support organisations (BSOs); built a four-day, sequenced programme combining PLMA immersion with preparatory webinars and field visits.
Match-making & deal support
Structured negotiation sessions, aligned specifications, pricing and logistics, and captured follow-up actions.
Targeted Company Visits
Curated seven field visits – two farmer co-ops, two processors, one wholesaler, one retail chain and one Dutch BSO – with presentations, plant tours and live negotiations.
Professionals Trained
10 SMEs • 3 Ukrainian BSOs • 7 Dutch counterparts
Curated B2B Meetings
Held at PLMA and on-site.