European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
AFB Working Group Meeting
Date & Time: 09:00-11:00 am, 24th April
European Chamber Shanghai (Shui On Plaza, Unit 2204, 333 Huai Hai Zhong Road)
European Chamber Beijing (Beijing Lufthansa Centre, 50 Liang Ma Qiao Road)
Dear Members of AFB WG,
The European Chamber is delighted to invite you to join our AFB Working Group Meeting at 09:00 hrs, 24th April 2014 at the European Chamber Beijing and Shanghai Offices, with the speaker in Shanghai. The meeting will be consisted of two sessions, please kindly refer to the tentative agenda as follows:
Agenda:
- Presentation: Modernization of Agricultural Supply Chain in China, Mr. Fran Gibson & Mr. Xavier Naville, Vision Management Consulting Limited.
- Q & A Session
Introduction to the Presentation
China has been hit by what seems to be a never ending series of food safety scares. In recent times there has been Clenbuterol in meat, Aflatoxin and botulism in dairy, dye in buns, antibiotics in chickens, and pigs in the river. The fundamental problem is that in the last two decades there has been unbalanced investment in food supply chains. While the shopping experience for the China consumer has become essentially 21st Century the food production end, farming, has remained dominated by peasant agriculture. The answer to the food safety problem is in the modernization of these supply chains. Consumers are demanding change, there are few issues of greater priority to the Chinese government, and there is no shortage of capital available to fund it. However modernization is a process that does not happen overnight. This presentation looks at the current pace of agriculture supply chain modernization, the challenges that determine its pace, the impact on the level of food self-sufficiency, and the opportunities that it opens for European business.
Biographies of the Speakers
Frank is an Australian who has been advising international companies on China business issues for twenty years. The majority of this work has been dealing with complex business issues across a mix of market entry, strategy development, sales and distribution, and supply chain management. He also has extensive experience in assisting multinationals acquire local operations and assets. He has particularly strong experience in the food and agri business sectors having worked for many international food producers.
Frank has degrees in the social sciences, economics and an MBA. He started his consulting career in Australia with Australian Consulting Partners (ACP), has held senior strategy/business development positions with a number of major corporates (Lion Nathan, Li & Fung) and served on several Boards (including Beach Heads a New Zealand Government China Advisory). Prior to entering the private sector he held a number of senior economic policy positions in the Australian Government.
Xavier is the founder of Creative Foods a key supplier to major restaurant chains in China. He took it from a start up to 8 factories, 4 farms, more than 1,000 employees and revenue of more than US$50m. He sold the business to a leading UK listed food company, Bakkavor, and exited the CEO role in 2011. He now fills his time with advisory work in the food sector and writing a book on the development of agricultural supply chains in China.
Xavier has a Masters degree in Corporate Finance and before starting Creative Foods was CFO for Compass Group China. He was also a member of the French junior fencing team. He lives in Shanghai with his journalist wife and three children
Registration:
Please kindly confirm your registration with Tianlei Huang (address: tlhuang@europeanchamber.com.cn ) before 18th April 2014, indicating your attendance in Shanghai or Beijing. As always, we welcome your suggestions for agenda topics and possible speakers for future meetings. Should you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
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For any further information about the Agriculture, Food & Beverage Working Group or Starch Desk, general inquiries such as Membership with the European Chamber or our partner associations, please contact Ms. Tiantian Qi at tqi@europeanchamber.com.cn.