Export roadshow promises valuable insight

Professor Caroline Saunders. Photo / Bevan Conley

The Export New Zealand roadshow promises overseas market insight and product selling advice when it comes to the EIT on October 16.

Professor Caroline Saunders, director of the Agri-Research and Economics Research Unit at Lincoln University, will present results from the first year of the research, focusing on how consumers in different markets respond to different attributes and on how New Zealand producers can communicate with their overseas consumers.

The government-funded research, called Maximising Export Returns, aims to help producers increase returns based on marketing credence attributes, such as food safety, animal welfare and environmental sustainability, of their New Zealand food and beverage exports to consumers in China, India, Indonesia, Singapore and the UK.

Professor Saunders has more than 30 years' experience in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Her research was recognised with the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Economics Award in 2007, and in 2009 she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Also at the roadshow will be Dave Courtney and Nick Kirton presenting the Zespri story - how the kiwifruit company built its brand into a premium consumer product.

Paula Nightingale and Pam Whitfield from inSight will talk about consumers becoming aware of food issues such as quality, nutritional composition, origin and environmental considerations. They will also address the export issues of stricter regulations around traceability and recalls, counterfeit risk, and the need to improve consumer engagement.

• The Export New Zealand event is being held in partnership with economic development agency Business Hawke's Bay. To book phone Amanda Liddle at 835 2528.