Reducing the use of plastics, looking after the environment and communities and ensuring the Zespri brand continues to be recognised as the world’s leading provider of premium quality kiwifruit are on the agenda for the Momentum 2020 conference at Mount Maunganui this month.

‘Standing Up and Standing Out’ is the conference theme and Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson says it is about resetting the industry “in the midst of a period of real growth and success”.

 “We’re challenging ourselves to continue to grow and do even better in the years ahead. It means looking at new products and new thinking, while reminding ourselves of the values and principles that have helped us get here today and that will continue to help us reach our goals by working together,” says Dan.

“We’ll do that by standing up – demonstrating our leadership by addressing some of the challenges we’re seeing today, like helping reduce the use of plastics and looking after our waterways, and by ensuring our industry continues to look after our people, our communities and our environment.

“And we’ll also do it by standing out – making sure we continue to innovate so that we stay ahead of our competition and ensure Zespri’s brand continues to be recognised as the world’s leading provider of premium quality kiwifruit.”

The two-day conference is on February 13-14 at Trustpower Arena in Mount Maunganui, where a range of international experts will be among the speakers. A series of workshops and panel discussion will also enable conference delegates to express their views too.  

Among speakers is Cathy Burns, who is CEO of the Produce Marketing Association. Discussing the future of the Zespri brand will be Zespri’s chief marketing officer Jiunn Shih. The speed of change of consumer and retailers is the topic to be addressed by Kantar’s chief knowledge officer J. Walker Smith. And Zespri’s chief innovation and sustainability officer Carol Ward will lead the brand and marketing sustainably framework launch.

The Momentum conference also coincides with Zespri’s new head office official opening and presentation of the Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal, both on February 13, and the 2020 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower competition Gala Dinner and Awards night on February 12.