IFTEX Experience 2017 - Flower Optimal Connection

The IFTEX show was held from 7^th to the 9^th June, 2017 at the Oshwal Center in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s event was the 6^th since inauguration. The show attracted 211 exhibiting companies from Kenya and various other African countries and buyers from across the world including new markets such as China.

F. Optimal Team, Shemulik Kedem Managing Director, Jan Renting Sales Manager, Dudi Bonomo Summer Flowers Department Manager and Ishai Sharon Rose’s Department Manager

The Flower Optimal Connection team was present during this year’s event where they successfully introduced their new venture of summer flowers to growers present. In our interview with Dudi Bonomo who was spearheading this novel venture at IFTEX, he was more than pleased that the company had indeed achieved all of the objectives they had set out in this quest.

Dudi Bonomo Summer Flowers Department Manager and John Ndungu Managing Director Benev Flora

Ruth Thuo of Phinna Flowers and Dudi Bonomo Summer Flowers Department Manager

“In general IFTEX is a great place to meet all growers in Kenya and Africa, as a company you are acquainted with all growers who are your clients.” Dudi Bonomo, Summer Flowers Department Manager affirms. “This helps us in receiving critical feedback as a business while at the same time get the opportunity to introduce F. Optimal to new growers who are not yet our clients.” Dudi says IFTEX provided a great moment to find out about new developments taking place in the flower sector, especially those that are important in driving the industry towards a more profitable future. He concludes, “At IFTEX 2017, we were able to create new business and new contacts for F. Optimal Connection. It was a very successful event for us and we look forward to next year’s event.”

Robert Kotut and Rebecca Kotut of Karen Roses with Shemulik Kedem

Ishai Sharon, Head of Rose Department with F.Optimal, strongly believes that the exhibition as it has always been, continues to provide a great opportunity for F. Optimal to meet all growers, breeders and facilitation suppliers in one convenient and centralized location.

However, Ishai holds certain reservations which he believes ought to be addressed by the organizers as a way of ensuring its continued success. One issue that stood out as a matter of fact was in the number of buyers who actually attended the exhibition, whereas the organizers had promised to bring as many buyers from different countries from all over the world, Ishai felt that only a few of them came which limited the number of new business opportunities that would have been developed.

On the other hand Ishai still holds a very positive outlook on IFTEX in general and he is quick to acknowledge that it still remains as one of the biggest events for displaying and marketing of all Kenyan flowers especially roses destined for European markets. He therefore looks forward to attending next year’s event while at the same time hoping and expecting that the number of buyers will increase.

Discussions carrying on at the F. Optimal stand at IFTEX

Jan Renting, head of the Sales for the roses division at F. Optimal, says he was very impressed by the quality and the wide array of flowers on display at the show. He further adds, “IFTEX serves all segments of the floriculture chain from breeders, propagators, growers, and cargo and trade suppliers. Therefore the expo afforded us with a great platform for business to business sessions with all growers and buyers from across the world markets.” He also concludes that IFTEX 2017 was extremely successful especially for ROSE SAFARI which was well received by the visitors at the exhibition. Jan looks forward to attending the next event in 2018.