PF brokerage service delivers steel drum packaging for Ethiopian honey suppliers

2016-11-01T16:27:56+00:00August 4th, 2016|Tags: , , |

After ProFound brokered a deal for the supply of steel drums to Ethiopia, the first container with drums for honey packaging arrived at the processing company Babichi. The empty drums came from ProFound’s partner in Europe who is interested in supplying drums in return for quality honey. The drums are crucial for Babichi and other Ethiopian honey suppliers to successfully export to Europe, because many European buyers only accept honey packed in steel drums. The use of plastic drums poses a higher risk of quality deterioration during transport and storage and they may collapse when stacked. ProFound studied various options [Read more]

Read More

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]

Read More

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]

Read More

ProFound supports Ethiopian pulse producers at Anuga

2016-11-01T16:28:08+00:00October 27th, 2015|Tags: , , , |

The ANUGA trade fair in Cologne, Germany provided an excellent opportunity for 3 Ethiopian farmer unions to meet with European companies. Previously, they only supplied products to the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange or Ethiopian companies. At ANUGA, they learned that European buyers are more demanding and require them to develop their business. ProFound and its partners SNV and Target are supporting the farmer unions with the necessary market knowledge, business planning and matchmaking. The study tour was part of the Cooperatives for Change (C4C) programme in Ethiopia. This programme aims to strengthen cooperatives and particularly the marketing of the farm products. [Read more]

Read More

Ethiopian honey processors prepare orders

2016-10-11T12:42:29+00:00March 23rd, 2015|Tags: , , , |

Following their successful participation in BioFach and Gulfood with support from ProFound, Ethiopian honey processors are preparing orders from their buyers. During a visit to Ethiopia in March, ProFound gave advice to these processors on their action plans. While sourcing of honey during the next harvest season in May is already on their radar, processors still need to secure steel drums for the export of this honey. In cooperation with several processors and the Ethiopian Apiculture Board, ProFound is consolidating orders for cost-efficient import of steel drums to address this potential bottleneck. With many new inexperienced exporters entering the sector, [Read more]

Read More

Bringing Ethiopian honey and beeswax to Biofach

2016-11-01T16:28:08+00:00February 23rd, 2015|Tags: , , , |

Biofach, the world’s largest trade fair for organic food, set the stage for the first trade fair participation of five Ethiopian honey processors, supported by ProFound. These companies are ready to start exporting honey to Europe: the trade fair in Nürnberg was the first, very successful, step to find buyers for their honey. We found an overwhelming interest in honey and beeswax from Ethiopia. On average, the exhibitors collected 25-30 business leads per company. We also brought four additional honey processors to the trade fair in Nürnberg for a study tour. Though not yet ready for exports, these companies are [Read more]

Read More

Trade Fair Season

2016-10-11T12:43:37+00:00January 21st, 2015|Tags: , , , |

ProFound is very excited to participate in major trade fairs during the coming months! Our journey starts in Biofach, Germany, where five Ethiopian honey processors who we have supported, are ready to start supplying the European market. They will exhibit their products on ProFound’s Ethiopia pavilion. With our help, more Ethiopian honey processors have the chance to visit Biofach and to get introduced thoroughly to the European honey market. Next to that, our company will be contributing to the works of Gulfood, in Dubai, one of the world’s largest trade fairs for the food and hospitality industries. After a long [Read more]

Read More

Ethiopia goes to Biofach

2016-11-01T16:28:08+00:00November 26th, 2014|Tags: , , , |

ProFound will bring 8 Ethiopian honey processors to Biofach 2015! Their participation is a reward for their outstanding progress through our Market Access Facilitation programme. This programme is one of the major components of ASPIRE, a honey sector development programme of ProFound and its partners SNV, Enclude and the Ethiopian Apiculture Board. During two years of intensive cooperation between ASPIRE partners and honey processors, ProFound audited these processors, educated them about European honey markets and prepared them for market entry. The processors developed marketing strategies and improved their capacities accordingly. At Biofach, 3 processors will be given a chance to [Read more]

Read More

Ethiopia Mission June 2014: Counselling Sessions

2016-10-11T12:50:59+00:00June 2nd, 2014|Tags: , , |

The Ethiopian honey sector is thriving. In 2011, the ASPIRE programme in which ProFound takes active part, counted 16 honey and beeswax processors. By now, in 2014, we are working with 26 members of the Ethiopian exporters association. Many businessmen and women recognise the opportunities in this sector. ProFound supports these entrepreneurs to develop their businesses by providing essential services: market analysis, analyses of capacities and strategic planning. In June 2014, we delivered services to individual entrepreneurs in a series of face-to-face counselling sessions in Ethiopia. It became evident from these sessions that, despite the many bottlenecks in the sector, [Read more]

Read More

Market entry for Ethiopian honey processors

2016-10-11T12:55:49+00:00March 4th, 2014|Tags: , , , |

Kasper Kerver and Jesse Bloemendaal of ProFound held a 3-day marketing strategy workshop for Ethiopian bee product processors in Addis Ababa. After short theoretical introductions of the different topics in a marketing strategy, the participants of the workshop developed their own marketing strategies through exercises and private counselling sessions with the consultants. This workshop was the kick-off for a long-term commitment by ProFound to support companies with their marketing strategy and business planning. Entrepreneurs delivering a high-quality marketing strategy are invited to participate in local and international trade fairs and other matchmaking opportunities. The first participants of the workshop have [Read more]

Read More
Go to Top