International Business Coaching

Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Location: Joensuu Science Park, Coaching Class (Building 3B, 4th Floor)

In this coaching session, you will prepare for the Matchmaking Event held in conjunction with the Internationale Grüne Woche 2025 trade fair, focusing on refining your company and product presentations.

Register by January 2, 2025: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi

You can also participate via Teams. Please indicate your preference when registering.

Trade Fair Trip to Germany: Internationale Grüne Woche, Berlin

January 20-23

About the trade fair

Since 1926, the world’s largest food-themed event, covering food, food tourism, and agriculture, is held annually. Primarily aimed at consumers, it also brings together a large number of industry professionals. The event attracts 300,000 visitors annually and features around 1,400 exhibitors from about 60 different countries, spread across several halls.

In addition to national pavilions, the fair includes various thematic sections covering the entire food value chain. A central theme across all offerings is sustainability. Each of Germany’s 16 federal states also has its own pavilion, showcasing typical products and regional characteristics.

The fair provides an excellent overview of both international and German product offerings, competitive landscapes, and market opportunities for Finnish companies. The pavilions of Germany’s federal states and the Nordic countries are especially valuable for gaining useful ideas for product development.

Program

Monday, January 20
11:15 - 12:15 Flight from Helsinki to Berlin
Transfer from the airport to the hotel
Check-in at Hotel Amano, Auguststraße 43, 10119 Berlin
15:00 Visit to Eat Berlin store
18:00 Summary of the day and group dinner (self-funded)

Tuesday, January 21
9:00 Departure from the hotel
10:00 - 11:30 Internationale Grüne Woche Trade Fair
Introduction to exhibitors and products from Niedersachsen and Thüringen halls
12:00 - 16:00 Independent exploration of the rest of the fair
17:00 - 20:00 Networking event with German companies:
"Distinctive Features of the German Food Industry and Opportunities for Finnish Companies,"
Ralf Pohle, Food Made in Germany
Product presentations from Finnish companies, feedback collection
Summary of the day

Wednesday, January 22
12:00 Departure from the hotel
12:45 Feinkost store Cheese & More by Henri Willig
Company presentation and product presentations from Finnish companies
14:00 Bikini Berlin – the Concept Shopping Mall
Introduction to concept stores
15:30 Nordic Embassies: Finnish food products in embassy catering, Chef Virpi Rasilainen, Katri Aalto, and Sini-Tuuli Saaristo
Product presentations from companies
17:30 Hans im Glück restaurant
Company concept presentation, Alois Richard
Summary of the day and group dinner (self-funded)

Thursday, January 23
10:00 Departure from the hotel to the airport
13:00 - 15:55 Flight from Berlin to Helsinki

For More Information
If you are interested in joining the trip, please contact:
hanne.husso@businessjoensuu.fi
+358 50 331 6867

Lessons Learned and Experiences from the Grüne Woche Trip

January 6 from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

• What were the key phenomena and trends observed during the trip, and how can they guide business development and competitiveness in domestic markets?
• Entrepreneurs' experiences and tips from company and product presentations at the Matchmaking event.
• What happens after the trip? How to continue building on the contacts and collaborations established?

Growth Possibilities in the Food Service Industry

February 25, from 9 am to 2 pm

Place: Further details will be provided later

In this training session, we will explore the Food Service market, its specific requirements, and upcoming trends. The session will begin with an introduction to the breakfast and meeting catering services of a hotel in Joensuu.

• What is required to enter the Food Service market?
• Packaging sizes and logistics requirements
• What are Food Service customers like and what are their expectations in Europe?
• Future trends in the Food Service industry

Trade Fair Trip to Germany: Internorga, Hamburg, March 15–19

Food Service - Distribution Channel for International Growth

A diverse customer base, including restaurants, cafes, catering companies, hotels, and public food services, is constantly seeking high-quality raw materials, semi-finished products, and ready-made items.

Benefits of Participating in a Trade Fair for Your Business:

• Network internationally and meet German industry companies and potential partners.
• The trip includes an opportunity to network and establish collaborations with companies from Suvi ry.
• Pitch your products and receive feedback that will enhance product development, marketing, and strengthen your company's competitiveness in the domestic market.
• Explore the latest industry trends and innovative equipment that can boost your business's competitiveness.
• See and experience industry operations firsthand in interesting site visits.

Lessons Learned and Experiences from the Internorga trip

March 27, from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

Welcome to the training session where we will review the lessons and experiences from the Internorga trip together with the companies that participated in the trip.

• What were the key phenomena and trends observed during the trip, and how can they guide business development and competitiveness in the domestic market?
• How is sustainability reflected in the Food Service market?
• How can your product stand out and succeed in the Food Service market in Europe?
• How does the feedback received from product and company presentations during the trip guide future product development and marketing?

Preparing for the Visit of German Retail Representatives

April 24 from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

Content details will be provided soon.

Register by March 25: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi

You can also participate in the training via Teams. Please mention your preference for remote participation when registering.

International Online Visibility, Marketing, and Sales

May 6 from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

Content details will be provided soon.

Register by March 25: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi

You can also participate in the training via Teams. Please mention your preference for remote participation when registering. 

Preparing for the Visit of German Retail Representatives

May 20 from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

Content details will be provided soon.

Register by March 25: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi

You can also participate in the training via Teams. Please mention your preference for remote participation when registering.

Visit of Representatives from German Retail Chains

June 4–6

Content details will be provided soon.

On the Way to Anuga

September 9 from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

The content details will be provided soon.

Trade Fair Trip to Germany: Anuga, Cologne

October 4–8

The program for the trip will be announced later.

Lessons Learned and Experiences from the Anuga trip

October, from 12 pm to 4 pm

Joensuu Science Park, Länsikatu 15

Welcome to the training session where we will review the lessons and experiences from the Anuga trip together with the companies that participated in the trip.

International Food Gifts Event
Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 12:00 to 16:00
Location: Science Park, Temple of Challenge Hall (Building 3A, 4th floor).

Please register for the International Food Gifts event on October 10 by emailing Satu Niiranen at satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.

Sustainability 2 Group Coaching
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 12:00 to 16:00
Location: Science Park, Orange Hall (Building 3A, 4th floor).

What would be an even more impactful way for your company to act more responsibly?

Please register for the Sustainability 2 group coaching on September 17 by emailing Satu Niiranen at satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.

Food Industry and University of Eastern Finland Research Collaboration
Monday, August 19, 2024, from 10:00 to 12:00
Location: Science Park, Coaching Class Room (Building 3B, 4th floor).

How can university collaboration accelerate your food or natural product business?

Welcome to learn about the University of Eastern Finland's diverse research and development opportunities for businesses:

• Funding opportunities
• Food safety
• Health potential of raw materials
• Business assignments in education.

The event will cover various funding opportunities, such as applying for Business Finland funding. Additionally, topics include the health potential of raw materials and food safety.

Research collaboration can provide your company and funders with diverse data to support decision-making, through measurements, surveys, and interviews.

The university continuously seeks business cases and assignments for education, where students can analyze and solve challenges in companies' product and business development.

The University of Eastern Finland hosts international Master of Public Health program students from around the world, who can provide valuable insights, for example, into potential export markets.

Experts have extensive experience in implementing various research projects with companies of various sizes:

• Kati Väkeväinen, food safety (University of Eastern Finland)
• Jenni Korhonen, business research and development (University of Eastern Finland)

Please register for the Food Industry and University of Eastern Finland Research Collaboration event on August 19 by emailing Satu Niiranen at satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.

Sustainability 1 Group Coaching
Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 12:00 to 16:00
Location: Science Park, Orange Hall (Building 3A, 4th floor).

What is sustainability and its various aspects in business?

Please register for the Sustainability 1 group coaching on August 13 by emailing Satu Niiranen at satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.

Online Visibility for companies  expanding internationally

Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Science Park, Coaching Class (Building 3B, 4th floor)

Sign up for the coaching session by May 20th here!

Contents of KareliaBite Coaching Package:

• ABC of Visibility – How does a company rise to the top of search results?
  • Relevance to the searched query
  • Do I do it myself or buy it ready-made? 
    
    
• The role of language
  • Keywords, regional presence, page translations
  • The company's tone on social media
  • Regional domain or language translation?

• Basic tools for improving visibility, examples
  • Keyword analysis, Google Ads / Keyword ideas (who examines the keywords?)
  • Improving websites on Seobility.net
  • Content, translations, competitor analysis: ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini

• Get your company profile in order on search engines.

Harnessing Networks to Drive Product Development in the Food Industry

Time: May 17, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Location: Soinilan Oy, Parkkilantie 120, 82200 Hammaslahti
The event will be held in Finnish. 

Are you looking to develop your products and find new partners in food industry product development? Do you need feedback on your products and their suitability for domestic and export markets?

Welcome to the food entrepreneurs' event at Soinila's premises to build a new kind of collaboration and product development network in the food industry, which strengthens your company's position in both domestic and export markets. At the same time, you'll get to know other entrepreneurs and products, and update your product development expertise.

Also brainstorming collaboration opportunities is Mikko Ilmoniemi from Jyväs-Hamppu in Central Finland. Mikko is an experienced product developer and artisan food producer who cultivates oil hemp on his own farm and processes products for the Jyväs-Hamppu product range. He won the artisan food championship in 2020, received the Local Food Act award in 2023, and markets his products in the international premium market as well. At the event, you can also receive feedback on your company's products from him.

The event is open to all companies and is jointly organized by the KareliaBite project for exporting food and natural products and Riveria's Jotpa training program for sales and marketing expertise in domestic and export markets.

Please bring your own company product samples!

The event accommodates 20 people.

Additional information and registration by May 14th, contact to: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi

AGENDA:

9:30 - Coffee and snacks available
10:00 Welcome, Hanne Husso and Marja-Leena Hirvonen
Introduction to Soinila by Piia and Markku Soininen
10:30 Food industry updates from Central Finland and experiences from the international premium market, Mikko Ilmoniemi, Jyväs-Hamppu
11:00 Networking workshop
13:00 Summary and agreement on next steps
14:00 Event finishes

Diverse Export Opportunities in the Luxury Yacht Industry

Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM

Explore export opportunities in the luxury yacht industry at the Superyacht Foodie & Superyacht Cluster event, hosted in Joensuu as an East Finland information session. This event offers you the chance to pitch your product or service, receiving valuable feedback on its suitability for the superyacht market. Moreover, it presents a unique opportunity to network, discover new business partners, and gain inspiration for expanding your operations into new markets.

Additional information and registration by May 13, 2024.

Internationalisation in Premium Markets - Coaching Package:

1. Coaching Workshop: Prepare for Internationalisation
Monday, March 25, 2024, from 12:00 to 16:00
Location: Joensuu Science Park, Orange Hall seminar room, Building 3A, 4th floor.
For more information and registration for the coaching workshop by March 20, contact: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.

Coaching Workshop content:

• What resources does internationalisation require from a company?
• How to prepare for international trade fairs?
• What should the product or packaging be like?
• What is the significance of sustainability?

2. Markt des Guten Geschmacks Fair, Stuttgart, April 4-7, 2024
For more information of the fair visit, contact: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.

3. Coaching Workshop: Insights from the Markt des Guten Geschmacks Fair 
Wednesday, April 17, from 12:00 to 16:00.
What was learned? What could I utilize in my own business and how? Demand trends and competitive factors in Central Europe. For more information and registration for the coaching workshop by April 10, contact: satu.niiranen@businessjoensuu.fi.