Snippets from Down Under

Getting there: The 2010 European Seafood Expo

Tuesday,27 April,2010 09:09:51

Getting from Australia to the European Seafood Exposition (ESE) has been a real struggle this year. To be honest, it is not an easy job every year, but 2010 will go down as being the hardest yet.

The year has been tough in many ways and not the least of concerns is the value of the Australian Dollar (AD), something totally out of everyone’s control. When the AD starts heading towards parity of the USD then exports become difficult, and. In fact, it is a double whammy because imports become easier.

Some companies who have relied entirely on the export market have a major dilemma. Do they keep their markets overseas still ticking over with product despite lower profits or losses, or do they cease supplying and run the risk of losing their market altogether?

On top of this situation you have many increased costs on businesses right through the production chain and without any industry collective marketing and promotion funds the various companies are left to their own devices.

Companies, therefore, who make decisions on being involved at the European Seafood Exposition, need to have the will to continue to put themselves ‘in the market’. Their management must also understand that ESE is not just about business in the EU but in the world, something that many companies do not appreciate. Sharing the costs of a joint Australian booth is clearly an advantage and keeping the Aussie flag flying at the event is, I believe, important.

Like everyone else who has made decisions to be involved at ESE, we have all suffered at the hands of the ‘volcanic ash’ with travel plans for products and people put in doubt. Getting from Australia without flying was never a possibility. But just as some difficult decisions were about to be made the skies cleared and we were on our way!

So come and see us at Stand 11-2624/2626 and hear about Australia’s new branding.

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