0
Realistic attitude
Leeuwenburgh compliments the realistic and optimistic attitude of the exhibitors: “Many exhibitors had innovations on display. They had planned customer events and meetings which had to be cancelled or rescheduled due to the smaller number of guests. In addition, corporate meetings with distributors and agents could not take place. It is not easy to cope with these disappointments, but everyone made the best out of the difficult situation. I am impressed by the great spirit of many exhibitors and trade visitors in this industry. ”Meyn Food Processing Technology had built a full factory situation as part of their presentation on the exhibition floor. Marketing Communications Manager Judith Marques dos Reis-Koops initially doubted if they would be able to meet up with their expectations. “We welcomed less visitors than we invited, but the factory presentations were surely successful and for the larger part fully booked.” Intracare’s Marketing Manager Arjan Vandervoort explains his experiences. “We were struck by the commitment of our customers who made it to the exhibition. Of course it was a lower quantity of people compared to our expectations, but they showed up, also to the ceremony for the official CTGB certificate - PT2, PT3 and PT4 - we have recently obtained for Intra Hydrocare. It made our team ‘more active than the volcano’ and we have extracted the maximum possible out of this situation!” Managing Director Job Beekhuis of Ovotrack was one of the companies with an innovation on display, the ECI (Egg Cargo Identifier). He was very keen on introducing the new smart and small product at VIV Europe. “This is the place-to-be for the introduction. We also scheduled two customer events. I was really worried when it became clear that air traffic would not resume in time, but in the end the events took place and we have found interesting new leads.”
Heartwarming efforts
Leeuwenburgh praises the visitors from outside the Netherlands who made the effort to come to Utrecht. “We have heard so many heartwarming stories! People travelling over long distances by car, bus or train. Guests from Israel took a plane to Italy and then travelled all the way through Europe by railway, finally arriving in Utrecht. Our Spanish sales agent travelled in a car pool with exhibitors. Other exhibitors and visitors came by car or buses from Italy, Turkey, Ukraine and Lebanon! A group of Chinese colleagues of De Heus Koudijs stranded in Warsaw. De Heus immediately arranged bus transport to Holland. CID Lines welcomed a group of guests from one of South-Africa’s largest pig farms Number 2 Piggaries who had travelled from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and then had a delay of almost 4 days in Johannesburg.”
Personality Awards
The VIV Europe 2010 Personality Awards were presented by Mr. Nigel Horrox of publishing company Positive Action Publications and Mr. Ruwan Berculo of VNU Exhibitions. The Awards are presented to personalities who ‘have given over and above the call of duty’ to their industries. The International Poultry Production – VIV Europe Poultry Personality Award was presented to Mr. Henry Kuhl of Kuhl Inc. Henry is well known across Europe as a larger than life personality and pioneer with an exceptionally clean track record – his washers have cleaned everything from hatching eggs to crates around the world for as long as anyone can remember. The International Hatchery Practice – VIV Europe Poultry Breeding Personality Award was given to Mrs. Marleen Boerjan of Pas Reform Hatchery Technologies. Over the years, Marleen has been a tutor, mentor and inspiration to hatchery personnel across Europe and further afield. She has always had time to help, advise and assist at all levels and has done so with clarity of words, patience and a friendly smile. The International Pig Topigs – VIV Europe Pig Personality Award was presented to Dutch entrepreneur Mr. Erik Thijssen. He produces pigs in Holland and Germany and has served his industry at all levels. He was until very recently chairman of the European Pig Producers and as such was an excellent ambassador for the pig industry across Europe.
http://www.vnuexhibitions.com/nl-NL/Corporate.aspx?sc_lang=en
