Regional Opportunities

Food and Beverage Sector Workshops Coming Up

A series of valuable workshops for businesses in the food and beverage industry are starting soon. Workshops cover topics such as getting your products into supermarkets, product assessment and quality assurance through tasting.

Lifting the Game

March 3rd 2011
Workshop leader: Hester Cooper

This workshop looks at new products from the supermarkets point-of-view. It will help your staff understand the facts and figures they need for successful presentations toThis half-day workshop on PRODUCT ASSESSMENT aims to improve the way your staff assess company products. It is specifically designed for small to medium size food businesses and includes:

  • An introduction on how to assess products (the "toolbox")
  • The basic tastes, aromas, simple flavour and texture assessment
  • Sessions on important product development steps - assessing competitive products, setting product targets, tasting for quality assurance.

Tasting for Quality Assurance

March 17th 2011
Workshop leader: Hester Cooper

This workshop goes into more depth on quality assurance. It aims to give your staff the skills they need to identify the key areas in the assessment of product quality. Sections covered include:

  • Tasting tools for quality assurance
  • Writing a product specification
  • Identifying key attributes which may change (especially over time)
  • What to do about "gold standards" - why do they move?
  • Keeping the system simple but effective

Workshops are to be held at the ATEED Southern Office, Level 8, 20 Amersham Way, Manukau. All workshops start 8.45 am and finish around 12.30 pm. Cost per workshop is $57.50 (incl GST). For more information please contact nicky@bizrodney.com.

New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Annual Conference 2011

Science to Reality - NZ and Beyond. 29 June - 1 July 2011, Rotorua.

This conference promises to be one of the best in recent years, exploring the role of New Zealand as an exporter of quality food products and expertise, and led by high profile keynote speakers from New Zealand and overseas, including:

  • David Hughes, Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London. www.profdavidhughes.com
  • David Irving, Ice House: "Export or die"
  • Jacqueline Rowarth, Massey University: keynote presentation
  • Steven Gee from NZTE "Destination Australia"

For a full outline of the conference programme, information for trade exhibitors , or to submit a paper for consideration visit www.nzifst.org.nz.

July 2011 Cultural and Trade Mission to Hawaii

Expressions of interest are sought from companies engaged in international trade in participating in a unique Cultural and Trade Mission to Hawaii in July 2011. Click here for more information.

Global Experts

Global Expert is a fast, confidential search service that connects New Zealand businesses and organisations with experts to help solve technical and market related challenges. Fund your expert costs though TechNZ - www.frst.govt.nz

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