UKR-WALNUT, a company from Khmelnytskyi region, is one of the leading suppliers of walnuts, which successfully presented its products at the international trade fair BIOFACH 2023 within the National Pavilion of Ukraine and signed contracts worth a total of EUR 700,000.

What are the benefits of participating in BIOFACH for the company?

The world’s leading trade fair for organic food BIOFACH is an opportunity for companies to present their own products to a foreign audience and discuss the latest developments and trends in the sector with international colleagues. Participation in international exhibitions becomes an important step for the companies seeking to position their business on the global market.

"The National Pavilions of Ukraine at the international exhibitions, support from organizations, and support at events help producers to show their products to the whole world, attract new customers, and support Ukraine's economy. I can confidently say that Ukrainian entrepreneurs have a great export potential, and therefore should participate more actively in such events," said Volodymyr Chuba, the company's director.

Company's results after participation in BIOFACH 2023 at the National Pavilion of Ukraine

At BIOFACH 2023 UKR-WALNUT presented organic and blanched walnut kernels, which allowed the company to confirm its presence on the EU market and declare its sustainable business development. The brand also presented its new products and attracted new customers from the EU, and established cooperation with the delegations that visited the pavilion. Thanks to participation in the exhibition events UKR-WALNUT was able to attract the attention of new potential partners and consumers, contributing to the development of the Ukrainian organic sector on the international market.

"Preparation for the fair was as usual, we did not have any surprises as we are a certified organic company and BIOFACH is a specialized fair for us. We have repeatedly participated in this event, so the preparation process is well-honed and clear," said Volodymyr Chuba, the company's director.

In 4 days of the fair the company was able to get 127 new business contacts and negotiate with 7 potential European partners with the possibility of concluding a contract. In the future, this will allow to open up more markets for cooperation and significantly increase exports.

As a result of BIOFACH, UKR-WALNUT established partnerships with Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands and signed contracts worth EUR 700,000.

"We got a very positive result and achieved the goals we had set for ourselves. I would like to draw attention to the fact that the more often the company participates in the exhibitions, the more it confirms its readiness to develop and scale its business. For UKR-WALNUT it was also a successful step in the development and confirmation of its presence," said Volodymyr Chuba, the company’s director.

"Our company has long noticed that organic products are not well represented in the country's retail chains. We attribute this to the fact that despite the demand from the population, supermarkets in Ukraine show little interest in this category of products. However, Ukraine can definitely become a powerful competitor on the global organic market. That is why we have set up all business processes so that the export of products to the EU countries become the main focus," said Volodymyr Chuba, the company's director.

Key steps to global success

The company's apparent and long-term goal is to attract large-scale European brands to cooperate. Participation in the fair allowed us to introduce ourselves to major players, to show that the company really makes a quality product, and that the production is certified according to European standards.

UKR-WALNUT has the status of an authorized exporter in Ukraine and is certified according to the EU organic standards; since 2005 it has been actively cooperating with the EU companies. The business has introduced a technology for processing walnuts without peeling, has its own plant, and successfully passes quality control every year to obtain the certificate from Organic Standard, and all the products comply with the national (DSTU) and UNECE DDP-02 standards.

"Declaring high quality, you have to stick to it. And this is a very important aspect. Large buyers rarely change their suppliers, so you need to fight for them," said Volodymyr Chuba, the company's director.

According to Volodymyr, participation in the international exhibitions like BIOFACH 2023 is an important stage in the development of any export-oriented enterprise.

The experience gained allowed us to articulate 4 main tips for Ukrainian entrepreneurs:

• Increase your visibility: international exhibitions provide an opportunity to present your brand on the global stage. This is incredibly important for creating your company's image and increasing its recognition.
• Explore new markets: participation in exhibitions allows you to explore new markets and competitive landscape. It is at such specialized events that a company can find new partners and customers who will expand the geography of its exports.
• Learn about the latest trends: exhibitions are an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest trends and innovations in the professional industry.
• Expand your network of contacts: meeting and cooperating with other entrepreneurs at exhibitions can lead to interesting and profitable partnerships.

Participation in international exhibitions is an investment in the future of business. Volodymyr Chuba emphasized that openness to new opportunities and a constant desire for development are key components of success on the international organic market.

For reference:

• The National Pavilion of Ukraine at BIOFACH 2023 was organized by the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office and national project Diia.Business in partnership with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Organic Ukraine NGO, Ukrainian Berries Association, and Organic Initiative.

Supported by:

• The European Union and German Government within the “EU4Business: SME Competitiveness and Internationalisation” programme implemented by the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH;
• EBRD and funded by Switzerland through the EBRD's Small Business Impact Fund (donors to the SBIF are Italy, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA, Taiwan Business - EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund and Norway);
• Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Programs “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) and “Organic Trade for Development in Eastern Europe” (OT4D);
• The project «German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture» (COA) that is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.