AB7 to provide gateway to expansion

11th March 2016

  

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A growing number of local and international packaging manufacturers are using the food and beverage exhibition, Africa’s Big Seven (AB7), to access rapidly expanding consumer markets across the continent.

AB7 set new records for international participation last year, with 267 food sector exhibitors from 49 countries attracting 13 550 visitors from 72 countries to the three-day show. AB7 2016 will run from June 19 to 21 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand.

Despite sluggish economic growth in emerging markets around the world, Africa is still seen as a high-growth region and this is particularly favourable for the packaging industry. Rising demand for packaging material and systems is being driven by Africa’s growing domestic economies, rising individual incomes and a rapidly expanding middle class, which has developed a taste for packaged foods, beverages and consumer products.

“Of Africa’s 1.1-billion people, one in three is a middle-class consumer. Africa also has the youngest population of any continent. These little- known facts are what make it such an attractive, yet underexploited, target market for world business,” says AB7 organiser John Thomson.

Africa’s population is projected to increase to 1.3-billion people by 2050, according to a United Nations report.

Italian packaging machinery manufacturers association Ucima recently published a three-year forecast of global demand for packaging machinery for 2015 to 2018. The forecast projected yearly world market growth of 4.9%, estimated a €40.3-billion. Most of this demand growth will be from Asia, Africa and Oceania at about 7.1%, followed by Latin America at 5.6%.

“Cosmetics, chemicals and food are the industry sectors with the biggest projected growth in demand for packaging systems,” says Thomson, adding, however, that food and beverages will take up the biggest proportion of total demand, with food at 31.8%, worth €12.8-billion, and beverages at 31.5%, worth €12.7-billion.”

AB7 enjoys a growing, worldwide reputation as a springboard into Africa’s growing markets. AB7 is an effective showcasing and networking hub where international companies can interact with businesses and buyers from numerous countries at the same place and time.

Last year, the AB7 show had visitors and dele- gates from 27 African countries, including Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia and Ghana, which was the highest attendance in the show’s history.

“Over 65% of all visitors at last year’s AB7 were business owners, company directors or management, and could authorise purchases,” adds Thomson.

“Exhibiting at AB7 for the third time is an easy decision to make. The past two years at AB7 have been a great experience for us; we got the opportunity to increase market awareness of our products and expand our clientele. The exhibition creates very good exposure for all companies in the industry,” says global packag- ing company Foster International sales mana- ger Tom O’Donoghue.

The company’s innovative flat-bottom pouch created a stir when it was introduced to overseas markets recently and will be on display at this year’s AB7.

Edited by Zandile Mavuso
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

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