INDUSTRY NEWS 42 countries from around the world, all under one roof,” says Thomson. South Africa’s food and beverage industry saw growthof 6.2%last year, but bar sales, experiencedits highest annual growth rate of 11%.
Africa Big Seven
AB7 Spotong Partnership Spot On!
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frica’s Big Seven (AB7) has partnered with Spotong to give township traders a wonderfulplatform to discover fantastic products with exotic flavours and delicious aromas from around the world and turn them into business opportunities. Africa’s Big Seven is the continent’s biggest food and beverage trade exhibition and it takes place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg from 30 June to02 July 2013. Commenting about the media partnership, Managing Director of Exhibition Management Services (EMS), which is the organiser of the AB7 event, John Thomson said: “We are incredibly excited to have Spotong on board as a media partner for AB7.” “We are looking forward to welcoming Spotong readers to the show, where they can explore the many wonderful products and business opportunities that AB7 provides every year. In addition, Spotong will have its own presence at the show where visitors can come and meet the team from publishers Contact Media throughout the three-day event.”
Partnership to Boost Business “Spotong readers are dynamic entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders in many of the townships and informal settlements around the country,” continues Thomson. “They play a major role in the economy as small and medium enterprises, creating jobs and contributing to the 4
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country’s gross domestic product. “Spotong readers also want informationabout the latest food and beverage businesstrends and new products from around the world; they also want to network with suppliers, customers and even competitors. This partnership between Spotong and AB7 provides an ideal primary platform for all of these business aspirations,” says Thomson.
The World of Food and Drink at AB7 Anyone remotely involved in the African food and beverage industry should be involved with AB7, whether as an exhibitor or visitor.“Only at AB7 can you see thousands of products by hundreds of exhibiting companiesfrom
“Paradoxically, spirits such as whisky perform well during tough economic times; in fact whisky is now the fastest growing spirit in South Africaparticularly amongstthe growing black middle class,with a 43.2% market shareworth R6.6 billion last year,” explains Thomson. “Whisky consumption this year is predicted to surpass 35 million litres,so this centuries-old Scottish invention should be a definite ‘yes’ on anystaverns’ shopping list,” adds Thomson.
Spotong readers will receive free tickets to the AB7 event and they should do whatever it takes to get there,” urges Thomson. “It is a wonderful, once-ayear opportunity to discover fantastic products with exotic flavours and delicious aromas from around the world and turn them into business opportunities in Africa.” For more information on AB7 and its exhibitors, contact Lineke van der Brugghen, Exhibition Management Services. Tel: +27 11 783 7250. Fax: +27 11 783 7269. E-mail: admin@exhibitionsafrica.com Website: www.exhibitionsafrica.com To watch a video of SAITEX and AB7 from 2012, simply go to www.youtube. com and type in the top search window: ‘Saitex& Africa’s Big Seven’.
