Food in times of blackouts and innovations against all obstacles: speakers of the main agri-food event New Food Summit 2024 are announced

In 2024, the top issues of concern to food producers, distributors, retailers and HoReCa players are how to scale, continuously produce and deliver products to consumers in the face of war, rising costs, changing supply chains and constant power outages. On October 15-16, at the New Food Summit, which will take place in Kyiv and online, agri-food industry leaders will tell us more about it.

Among the speakers of the summit:

• Olena Vovk, co-owner of the biotechnology company Enzym Group and pet food manufacturer Kormotech;
• Dmytro Zozulya, Deputy CEO of MHP for M&A, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the MHP Food Invest Fund;
• Boris Shestopalov, founder of Volia Agri-Food Park, co-owner and CEO of HD-group, co-owner of GFS Group;
• Serhiy Voytsekhovskyi, member of the Board of Directors of BGV Group Management;
• Yevhen Klopotenko, chef, co-founder of the “Inakshi” gastroholding;
• Yuliya Aurora Ogorodnyk, gastro-enthusiast, food researcher, and trend hunter;
• Yuliia Kovalchuk, Strategy Director and Member of the Supervisory Board at Molokia;
• Evgeniya Blyznyuk, sociologist, CEO & Founder of Gradus Research;
• Solomiya Kuksa, Commercial Director and Member of the Board of Lviv Refrigeration Plant PJSC;
• Pavlo Linevych, Marketing Director at Underwood;
• Kateryna Vaidych, Сo-founder and Director of MHP Trend Foods, Founder and Co-owner of RyabChick;
• Oleksandr Prykhodko, Agricultural Market Development Manager of the USAID AGRO Program;
• Valery Volkov, Founder of “YUGFOOD” company;
• Mykhailo Gafurov, Customer Success Team Leader at NielsenIQ Ukraine;
• Oleksandr Mykhalenko, Owner of Hemp Factor and Hemp Café, Co-owner of Food Factor;
• Roman Kvashenko, CEO and founder of Wanted Vegan;
• Anna Zavertaylo, Co-founder of the chain of Honey confectionery chain and Zavertaylo bakeries;
• Oleg Degtyarenko, Founder of Savvy Foods;
• Boris Tsomaya, Marketing Director of “New Products”;
• Olena Lemeshko, Head of Food at goodwine (Wine Bureau LLC);
• Andriy Cherukha, Founder of Eat me at;
• Andriy Vaskovets, CEO of Terlych;
• Vita Nakonechna, Founder of BABA PEREDALA;
• Vladyslav Kyrychenko, Co-founder of LLC Bio Products Factory and Sanfill;
• Oksana Grinchenko, CEO of Ascania Frozen Foods;
• Alina Kondratenko, Head of Brand Group MHP Snacking;
• Irina Palko, founder of Unrise;
• Oleksandr Lipsky, Owner and CEO of CBD.UA;
• Konstantin Merkulov, Partner at Frianna Foods;
• Larysa Bondarieva, Deputy Chairman of the Board in Raiffeisen Bank.

Panel discussions that await the participants of this year’s New Food Summit:

• “Food supply chains in times of blackouts: how agri-food business overcomes the challenges of the year”. Effective interaction and “redesign” of the entire food supply chain “from field to table” in the context of the energy crisis.
• “How food retail is adapting to new consumer needs”. We will talk about the needs, expectations, trends in consumer behavior and tastes, and the products and services that retailers create in response to this demand.
• “Ready-to-eat food and semi-finished products: will quick solutions become the new normal for Ukrainians”. The niche of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products in the context of blackouts. What will happen to the category in the context of stabilization of the energy situation?
• “Integration into international markets: strategies for successful promotion”. About choosing a strategy for entering international markets and making informed investments in the development of exports.
• “Future Food: Prospects for functional and healthy food in Ukraine. Drivers and limits of market development. What do consumers really want from future food? And are they willing to pay for it?
• “Financing and investments in the agri-food sector”. The financial opportunities available to Ukrainian agri-food businesses today. Changing investment strategies: how do investors evaluate businesses and make investment decisions now?
• “How to restart the bakery market”. How can Ukraine become a prominent player in the global bread and bakery products market? We will discuss solutions and a system of interaction that will lead to the creation of Ukrainian competitive products such as flour, frozen dough, pasta and bread.
• “Transformation in HoReCa”. How does HoReCa repackage its business models and what makes it possible for establishments to remain competitive? Changing formats, new food solutions and service strategies.
• “The path of craft producers in Ukraine”. How can small craft producers get on the shelves of large retail chains, get favorable sales conditions and scale their business?

The event will also include a startup pitching session with a presentation of the most interesting startups in the food tech sector and networking with potential partners and investors. In the EXPO zone, participants will be able to see breakthrough solutions for the agro and food industries, and in the NEW FOOD BAR, they will be able to taste innovative products.

According to last year’s statistics, 37% of the New Food Summit audience were owners, co-owners, CEOs, and deputy CEOs of agri-food companies. This shows the great potential of the event for finding and discussing systemic solutions that can change several markets at once. To be involved in the creation of a new agri-food ecosystem and not to miss the new opportunities created by the cooperation of various players – from agri holdings, processors and producers to distributors, retailers and HoReCa — join the New Food Summit. Register for the best conditions here: https://bit.ly/3B3dVRa

The event is organized by IdeasFirst. The general partner is Volia Agri-Food Park. Intellectual partner – Enzym Group. Strategic partner — MHP. Official partners — Kyivstar Business and Raiffeisen Bank. Partners — GEA — engineering for a better world and HD-Group.