Four lessons learned to develop natural ingredients sector strategy for South Africa

2017-05-31T11:37:34+00:00November 3rd, 2016|Tags: , , , |

After two years of identifying bottlenecks to export for South African natural ingredients suppliers, a sector strategy is taking shape. The strategy tackles issues such as conflicting government policies, a lack of cooperation in the sector, and access to finance. “The third strategic workshop of DTI and CBI on Natural Ingredients in South Africa, on the 28th of October, brought together all relevant stakeholders to agree on a strategy for the sector.” - Robbie Hogervorst, senior consultant at ProFound This strategy defines actions needed to develop a business enabling environment for the sector: at the level of legislation, sustainable supply [Read more]

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Relevant South African Public and Private institutions agree on actions for a better future of the Natural Ingredients sector

2016-11-01T16:27:56+00:00August 16th, 2016|Tags: , , , |

During the second strategic workshop for natural ingredients in South Africa on the 1st of July 2016, sector stakeholders set clear objectives and actions to increase exports of natural ingredients. Objectives were set along the value chain, from establishing a sustainable value chain, to processing according to international requirements, and commercialisation to the right market with the right certification and marketing tools. Objectives were also set to improve the business enabling environment and legislation, and connect research and the private sector. These objectives were translated in specific actions such as: - Developing CSR tools to help companies implement CSR - [Read more]

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Business Organizations adopt export marketing training for South African Natural Ingredient exporters

2016-11-01T16:27:56+00:00August 16th, 2016|Tags: , , , , |

Within the scope of the CBI natural ingredients project in South Africa, ProFound developed a training with CECOSA, the Cosmetic Export Council of South Africa, for companies to develop an export marketing plan. This plan helps companies to decide which product to export to which market, and what actions, people and investments are needed to get there. Also, the export marketing plan is suitable to request subsidies for market entry from DTI, the South African Department of Trade and Investment. Food South Africa / The Western Cape Fine Food Initiative, identified new services for their members – such as a market [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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Introducing Kosovo to the market

2016-11-01T16:28:03+00:00December 15th, 2015|Tags: , , , , , |

As a follow-up to the inception phase, ProFound has been actively involved in the implementation of Swisscontact-PPSE's interventions for Kosovo's food processing sector in 2015. At Anuga (Cologne, Germany), ProFound provided support to 12 Kosovar companies dealing with a wide range of products, from smoothies and energy drinks to preserved vegetables and mushrooms. ProFound's role at Anuga went beyond creating business linkages, also including capacity-building aspects to the exhibiting companies. Food Ingredients Europe (Paris, France) was directly aimed at the non-wood forest product sub-sector, and served as a solid basis to define the strengths and needs of Kosovo's companies. At [Read more]

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Market orientation: EU health ingredients

2016-10-11T13:27:03+00:00May 12th, 2015|Tags: , , , |

Robbie Hogervorst and CBI health ingredient expert Klaus Dürbeck travelled to Vitafoods in the beginning of May for a Market Orientation mission with South African producers of natural ingredients. During this mission, companies verified their market entry strategy with classroom trainings. They met with potential buyers and came to a better understanding what they need to enter the EU market.  Not only did the trade fair show them potential customers, but also their competitors. Key in this work was to acquaint the companies with documentation: using company contact forms for effective decision making and follow up. Visiting retail outlets showed [Read more]

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South Africa: fact-finding and acquisition mission

2016-11-01T16:28:09+00:00March 26th, 2014|Tags: , , |

South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, offering a wealth of indigenous plants to produce natural ingredients. Next to these raw materials, South Africa also has a large food and wine industry; its waste materials, such as kernels, peel, seeds and low-grade materials can be used to produce a variety of extracts, essential oils and vegetable oils. Only a few companies in South Africa bank on these opportunities to supply export markets with innovative ingredients. Moreover, only recently are some public institutions becoming aware of the opportunities the sector offers for rural development and value addition. In this context, CBI is [Read more]

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Palestinian potential for Natural Ingredients

2019-03-28T11:45:18+00:00March 26th, 2014|Tags: , , , |

Palestinian companies face many bottlenecks when targeting export markets. Especially pressing are limited access to water and land and a weak enabling environment. Natural ingredients producers are particularly affected. Exporters rely on domestic raw materials which are not available according to consistent volumes and quality. Moreover, companies lack information and entrepreneurial skills for production, business and export planning. In a joint effort, the Netherlands Representative Office and CBI agreed to investigate the possibilities of a CBI intervention in the natural ingredients sector. ProFound worked on the first step in this process: an in-depth Value Chain Analysis (VCA). Together with Klaus [Read more]

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