COTECA connections

Hamburg will be the spotlight city of the coffee world from 10 to 12 October when it hosts COTECA, a dedicated coffee, tea and cocoa global industry expo. COTECA presents the whole value chain of the coffee, tea and cocoa industries – from growing to trade, processing and blending, final products, technologies and services. The market overview will be complemented by a supporting program of professional coffee cuppings and tea tastings, practical workshops, and presentations. “Hamburg is Europe’s number one hub for handling coffee, tea and cocoa. COTECA will combine all three sectors again this year for the fifth time, bringing together international suppliers and buyers for a three-day event,” says Claudia Johannsen, Business Unit Director at Hamburg Messe and Congress GmbH. Alongside the products and services of the international exhibition, the Kaffee Campus of the German Roasters Guild will take place in the exhibition halls of Hamburg Messe. This year, the German Roaster’s Guild will feature workshops, cuppings and activities from Berlin School of Coffee, Colombian Spirit, Giesen Coffee Roasters, Kalita, Mahlkönig, Probat, Bestbrew, InterAmerican Coffee, Ikawa and more. About 200 exhibitors from some 40 nations and 76 countries will present their products and innovations at COTECA. “It’s a special atmosphere in the exhibition halls when the world meets at COTECA. It’s a great pleasure to host an event with so many different exhibitors from various nations of the world,” Johannsen says. International organisations such as Gebrüder Wollenhaupt, Tea Directorate Kenya, Blaser Trading, Frey + Lau, Hälssen & Lyon, Ohki, InterAmerican Coffee, and producers from El Salvador, Peru and Indonesia will use this platform to connect with about 4000 expected visitors on key industry subjects. “COTECA exceeded our expectations,” says Lucy Murumba, Managing Director, Kenya Co-operative Coffee Exporters in Nairobi, Kenya, who attended COTECA in 2016. “We had very good discussions with a lot of interest in our products, and are expecting to gain new business relations as a result.” COTECA organisers say the industry expo is not only an international meeting point but the ideal platform to gain an overview of current global market developments. Alongside product innovations, the exhibitors reflect the growing interest in Fairtrade products. According to TransFair, 18,367 tonnes of Fairtrade coffee was sold in Germany in 2017, up eight per cent year-on-year, with Fairtrade accounting for 4.1 per cent of the overall coffee market. Approximately three quarters or 77 per cent of Fairtrade coffee sold in Germany also comes from ecological growing. Carola Muschke, responsible for trade and investment of the Peru Business and Trade Bureau, and COTECA exhibitor, says certified products and selected specialty coffees are a strength of Peru’s coffee production. “Peru is the second largest grower and exporter of organic coffee worldwide. The trend is towards quality rather than quantity,” Muschke says. At the last COTECA in 2016, 91 per cent of visitors praised the quality of information available, 93 per cent highlighted the opportunities for comprehensive expert discussions and exchange of views, and 90 per cent said they were pleased with the opportunities to gain and cultivate international contacts. Event organisers are hopeful the same results will be achieved at its 2018 event when Hamburg welcomes the world. For more information, visit www.coteca-hamburg.com