As part of the 2023 program, SUSTA organized a trade mission to Houston. Texas and Atlanta, Georgia for 4 Mexican buyers to meet with nearly 40 companies from the Southern United States that are members of SUSTA (Southern U.S. Agricultural Trade Association) to develop commercial opportunities between both countries.
The buyers traveled to both cities being received by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, coordinating meetings between buyers and sellers in a Table-top format, combined with visits to supermarket stores and other suppliers. Trade leads were generated that we hope will result in sales in the near future.
Imalinx with the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) oversaw coordinating a trade mission in Mexico City and Monterrey from October 10 to 13. Eleven companies from different categories such as snacks, cocktails, spices, seeds, flour, oysters, and general groceries registered for the mission.
The mission included one-on-one meetings, retail tours, and educational sessions from Imalinx and the Agricultural Trade Office to better understand the market in each city. Each company had an average of 8 appointments in both cities with a total of 150 meetings during the mission, all with buyers who have a specific interest in exporters.
The retail tour was made in Costco, City Market, Chredaui, Showroom Hanseatik, HEB, and S-mart. Companies were able to better understand their competition in Mexico, price range, indirect competition, and different formats available in Mexico City and Monterrey.
“We are so grateful for all your help, Andrea’s, and Marco’s, before, during and after the trade mission. You all were amazing. The mission exceeded my and Chance’s expectations and was invaluable with the connections we made and the knowledge/information we gained about the markets, trends, and the area.” – Lisa Meeting, Caffe Frutta Gelato.
The U.S Southern Agricultural Trade Association with the help of imalinx coordinated the first virtual business mission in Mexico where 16 exporters signed up for digital business meetings with key contacts from the food and beverage industry with the objective of exploring new business opportunities for the Mexican market in the mid and long term.
Due to the COVID contingency, SUSTA and Imalinx had to migrate the in-person trade mission originally scheduled for Houston and Atlanta to a digital format that helped expand the number of registered buyers and exporters. Through the Zoom platform, Imalinx offered a virtual seminar to the 16 exporting companies talking about Mexico’s country overview, business situation, new labeling regulation and recommendations for the sessions. Followed by appointment coordination, sample logistics and follow-up after the event with exporters and buyers.
A total of 53 appointments were confirmed and divided in two blocks. The first was for categories of general snacks and groceries, the second for special categories such as plant proteins, cocktails, craft beer, among others. All contacts received pre-event samples to make products available during meetings, This facilitated the communication, immediate feedback and preparation of buyers for appointments.
Walter Brooks of Brooksmade Gourmet Foods
“I really looked forward to it and it was great. We will definitely come back and let you know if we could use your help in the future with these relationships”.
Jaime Fuentes de Brand Rep’s Cancun
“They were quite interested in our brokerage services. Likewise, their proposal has already been sent to each one so that, if accepted, they can start representing them in Mexico and be able to introduce their products to the markets they indicate us”.