Cyprus Speciality Food & Wine Buyers Mission

Navigator was selected by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) to organise a speciality food and drink buyer’s mission from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and Ukraine.

​

The food and drinks sector in Cyprus is a leading industrial contributor to GDP and a leading employer of skilled labour. Cyprus has been renown since antiquity for its fine wines, including Commandaria sweet wine as well as speciality grape varieties such as mavro or xinisteri, while its popular cheeses (halloumi) and other products (smoked ham, sausages, etc.) have gained a loyal international following in recent years.

​

Navigator Consulting was selected by international tender by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) to organise a speciality food and drink buyer’s mission from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and Ukraine.

​

The project objectives were to:

​

• Identify 10 specialist wholesellers, imports, distributors and retailers of traditional and Mediterranean food and beverage products and ingredients;

• Develop a detailed profile of their purchase needs, and match these purchases with qualified food and wine suppliers from Cyprus;

• Manage the logistics of an all-expenses paid trip (airfare, hotel, local transport) to Cyprus as well as B2B match-making meetings between purchasers and suppliers;

• Raise general awareness on Cypriot food and beverage products in the target region.

 

The main product categories targeted were:

​

• Olive oil, olive paste, olives

• Aromatic herbs, plants, nuts, honey

• Wines and alcoholic drinks, ouzo, zivania, raki

• Mineral water, beverages, fruit juices

• Dairy products, cheeses, Greek yoghurt, ice cream

• Processed meat products, hams, sausages

• Bakery products, rusks (paximadia)

• Fruits and vegetables

​

Navigator implemented an online marketing campaign designed to identify buyers and suppliers:

​

• A email contact database of over 550 speciality food buyers from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and Ukraine was developed and an email communications campaign launched

​

• A public awareness and communications campaign using LinkedIn groups and direct contacts was undertaken

​

• Additional social media, including Facebook and Google+, were enlisted in the online promotion effort

​

• Intermediaries such as chambers of commerce, sectoral associations and commercial attaches alerted to the event and requested to disseminate news

​

• Direct contacts were undertaken by email and telephone.

​

The final results surpassed expectations: a total of 17 buyers from 12 companies participated:

​

• Russia: 4 companies

• Sweden: 3 companies

• Denmark: 2 companies

• Finland: 3 companies

​

Please contact us for additional information on the organisation of trade fair, B2B brokerage events, sourcing and other projects.