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Facing away, Shabbir Ezzi, director, Al-EzziIndustries, supplies coffee from Yemen.
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Jane Pettigrew, Glenn Anthony John, Claudia Jeske, Emerson Leonard
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Ross Colbert, Rabobank and Dan Bolton, STiR
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Sunalini Menon, on stage, Coffeelab, Bangalore
HAMBURG, Germany — The third edition of COTECA (Coffee, Tea Cocoa/Global Industry Expo) brought together 3,000 industry executives for presentations and demonstrations relevant to their trade.
Internationally known experts shared their insights on cultivation, processing, distribution, financing, and marketing while 136 exhibitors from 30 countries operated equipment, handed out samples, and provided advice on acquiring the latest innovations in products and packaging.
Exhibitors included Neuhaus Neotec, Benecke Coffee, BASF, Wollenhaupt, Rehm & Co., Hälssen & Lyon, Frey & Lau, Cimbria Heid, Worlée NaturProdukte, Deutscher Kaffeeverband, Satake Europe, and many more.
Conference topics ranged from a discussion of changes in global tea consumption and advice on launching a tea venture online, to keeping up with the single-serve success of coffee and promoting sustainability of cocoa production in under developed countries.
Claudia Johannsen and Claudia Jeske, of Hamburg Messe und Congress, organizers of COTECA, reported “participants were very pleased with the high level of expertise, with the lively exchanges, and with the new exciting aspects and experience from other countries.”
Half those attending reside outside Germany and 90% make purchasing decisions, said Jeske.
“We had a good number of contacts at the show and outstanding quality of discussions,” said Marcus Clausen, managing director, Dethlefsen & Balk. “There were plenty of trade visitors and a very high proportion of export organizations – very pleasing,”
“We were able to gain good new contacts, including contacts in the Baltic States and the Balkans” said Simon Stähle, sales manager DACH, Toper Roasters. “We sold one machine directly here at the trade show, and that is of course fantastic. We are also expecting good follow-up business - COTECA was a complete success for us.”
The show offered several opportunities for relaxed networking beginning with an opening reception in Hamburg’s magnificent City Hall.
Floor demonstrations included coffee roasting, tea tastings, and coffee cuppings. The COTECA Arcade, with its marketplace flair, appealed to coffee shop owners, accessory suppliers, and tea boutiques.
“We were able to gain many new business leads,” said Adriana Pfleger, managing director, Lösung CR/ Café Britt, Costa Rica. “COTECA is exactly the right trade show for us.”