„Organic Marketing Forum“

International Meeting on Processing and Marketing of Organic Food, 25th and 26th of May 2006 in Warsaw / Poland.

Patronage:
Krzysztof Jurgiel, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Areas of the Republic of Poland. “How can I be more successful in the organic market? What are the new ideas for my organic company? Where can I find new distribution channels, new products or contacts in my country or in the neighbour countries?” These are the every day questions of companies that produce or sell organic food. Companies which are interested in starting an organic branch ask: “What are the most important factors to be successful in processing and selling organic food? Can I get new customers when I go organic?“

The “Organic-Marketing-Forum” will provide answers to these and more questions: Business people and decision makers of the organic market of Poland, Czech Republic and Germany and their neighbour countries will meet in Warsaw. They come to benefit from good examples of other entrepreneurs, to exchange experiences and to make new business contacts in their region and in new areas. The two days in Warsaw are made for having new ideas and to find new ways of success. Take part and take the chance!

25th of May: Wholesale trade and retail trade of organic food

11.00 a.m.: Arrival of participants, welcome coffee, registration.
01.00 p.m.: Opening of the Organic Marketing Forum: Krzysztof Jurgiel, Polish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Areas. Welcome words of EKOLAND, ORA, EkoConnect. Opening presentation: “The role of organic agriculture in food markets of today and tomorrow“, Stefan Hipp, Hipp-Werk Georg Hipp (www.hipp.de). „The market for organic raw material and organic food in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe“, Dr. Sylwia Zakowska-Biemans, Agricultural University of Warsaw (www.SGGW.pl)
02.45 p.m.: Coffee break and possibility to visit product presentations of organic companies and organic organisations.
03.30 p.m.: „Organic wholesale trade – market structures and trends in Eastern and Western Europe”, Tom Vaclavik, Organic Retailers, Association (www.o-r-a.org). “How to tell the customers? – Experiences with training of selling staff of organic food shops in Poland” Janina Sokołowska, Polski, Klub Ekologiczny (www.pkegliwice.pl)
04.15 p.m.: Experiences of wholesale trade and retail trade companies:
I. NATURA-Organic food shops, Krakau, Poland
II. ALBIO spol. s r.o. - Organic food shops Praha, Czech Republic
III. Bionica Sp. z o. o. Złotoryja, Wholesaler, Poland
IV. Naturkost Erfurt GmbH, Wholesaler, Germany
V. Dennree GmbH, Töpen, Wholesaler, Germany
VI. Country Life, Wholesaler, Czech Republic
VII. Organic Market, Wholesaler and Organic food shop, Warsaw, Poland
07.15 p.m.: Dinner and Get-together (in the same building).

26th of May: Processing and marketing of organic food

08.30 a.m.: Selling organic food in conventional food chains – what are the expectations of organic buyers as well as the strategies of the food chains and how shall food processor respond on that? Jörg Kunz (www.oeko-strategie.de). Prerequisites for a successful production and marketing of organic food in organic food shops, Willi Jennissen, (www.willi-jennissen.de). Visions of a strong organic retail market sector in Poland, Ralph Liebing, Organic Retailers Association (www.o-r-a.org). Interaction database for processing and marketing of organic food in Poland, CDR Radom, http://www.cdr.gov.pl/radom/
10.15 a.m.: Coffee and communication break.
10.45 a.m.: Experiences of processing companies:
I. Bio Food sp. z o.o., Vegetables, Poland
II. P.P.H. TAST Organic Bakery, Poland
III. Ulrich Walter GmbH - Lebensbaum, Coffee, Tea, Herbs and Spices, Germany
IV. Bioland Markt GmbH, Raw Material for Processors, Germany
V. Josef Sklenař, Salami-Producer, Czech Republic
Closing Session: Conclusions – next steps
01.00 p.m.: End of the Forum.
02.15 p.m.: Opportunity to take part in an excursion: Visiting organic food shops in Warsaw (return at about 6 p.m.)

Additional information:
Conference languages are Polish, German and English – all speaches will be translated simultaneously. Translation of personal dialogue: During the meeting and especially during the breaks there will be „flying translators“ around who will help with translations in two or more persons dialogues.

Presentations of organic companies:

Participants will have the chance to present their company or products at information tables during the first day of the meeting. Pre-registration is necessary for that and a fee will be charged. Please mark your interest in an information table on the registration form. The conference fee is 120 EUR for participants form the old EU member states and 50 EUR for participants from new EU member states and others. Included are the conference beverages and the Get-together with dinner. We want you to have maximum benefit from this meeting. If you have questions, please call: (+49-351) 2066 172 or (+49 351) 456 8039.

Venue:
Centrum Partnerstwa Społecznego "Dialog" im. A. Bączkowskiego
ul. Limanowskiego 23, 02-943 Warszawa
Office - phone: (+48 22) 642 30 14, Reception - phone: (+48 22) 842 05 61, fax: (+48 22) 842 13 35
http://www.cpsdialog.oit.pl/

Organiser:
EkoConnect – International Centre for Organic Agriculture of Central and Eastern Europe
Arndtstrasse 11, 01099 Dresden, Germany
phone: (+49 351) 2066 172, fax: (+49 351) 2066 174, E-Mail: office@ekoconnect.org
www.ekoconnect.org

In Cooperation with:
EKOLAND Polska, Grzybów 1/2, 09-533 Słubice, Poland (http://www.ekoland.org.pl)
Organic Retailers Association (ORA),
Theresianumgasse 11/1/1, A-1040 Vienna, Austria (http://www.o-r-a-org)
Centrum Doradztwa Rolniczego w Brwinowie oddział w Radomiu
Chorzowska 16/18, 26-600 Radom, Poland (http://www.cdr.gov.pl/radom)

Registration:
In written form or by fax with the annexed registration form at: EkoConnect e. V.
You can find the registration form also at www.ekoconnect.org.
Registration until: 10th of May 2006. After registration you will recieve a registration confirmation and details for your journey to the Forum.