FRESKON Internation Trade Show for Fruit and Vegetables – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event date: 15–17 April 2027
Location: Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
Event status: Upcoming
Research date: 1 July 2026
| Event Name |
FRESKON Internation Trade Show for Fruit and Vegetables |
| Event Date |
15–17 April 2027 |
| Event Status |
Upcoming |
| Venue |
Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center |
| City |
Thessaloniki |
| State / Region |
Central Macedonia |
| Country |
Greece |
| Organizer |
HELEXPO / TIF-HELEXPO |
| Official Event Website |
freskon-expo.gr/en |
| Event Type |
International trade show with hosted buyers program, conferences, parallel workshops, and B2B networking |
| Primary Category |
Food & Beverages |
| Secondary Applicable Categories |
Agriculture & Forestry; Logistics & Transportation; Business Services |
| Audience Reach |
International, with strong B2B export, sourcing, and hosted-buyer appeal |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall |
Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability |
Medium for event format and scope; low for attendance volume because current-year footfall is not publicly confirmed. |
| Main Purpose of Event |
To connect fresh fruit and vegetable producers, exporters, buyers, importers, retailers, and logistics partners through targeted trade meetings, exhibitions, conferences, and product promotion. |
FRESKON is a specialized international trade show focused on fresh fruit and vegetables, hosted in Thessaloniki by HELEXPO / TIF-HELEXPO. The official site positions the event as a gateway to international markets and emphasizes a structured B2B meeting program, hosted buyers, conferences, and parallel events tailored to fresh produce commerce.
The event matters because it serves the export, sourcing, and supply chain needs of the fresh produce sector, bringing together growers, exporters, importers, supermarket and retail buyers, logistics providers, and industry specialists. Its market relevance is strongest for companies seeking cross-border purchasing relationships, retail supply partnerships, category expansion, and market-entry opportunities in the Mediterranean and broader international fresh produce trade.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment |
Typical Organizations |
Buying Role or Influence |
Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
| Retail and supermarket buyers |
National supermarket chains, regional grocery groups, fresh produce category teams |
Direct sourcing, category management, supplier approval |
Very high relevance for fresh produce suppliers and exporters |
| Importers and exporters |
Fresh produce trading firms, import houses, export agencies |
Sourcing, supply contracts, market access |
Core commercial audience for trade and route-to-market deals |
| Wholesale and distribution buyers |
Produce wholesalers, distribution networks, produce market operators |
Bulk purchasing, channel access, logistics coordination |
High relevance for volume suppliers and packers |
| Procurement and sourcing teams |
Retailers, foodservice groups, importers, processors |
Supplier selection, pricing, contracting, compliance |
Key audience for suppliers seeking long-term purchasing agreements |
| Hosted buyers |
Invited international buyers, chain buyers, trade partners |
Pre-qualified purchasing and partnership authority |
High-value meeting audience for exhibitors |
| Logistics and cold-chain operators |
Freight forwarders, reefer transport, storage and warehousing providers |
Solution evaluation, partner selection, service procurement |
Relevant for packaging, handling, and transport suppliers |
| Producers and producer associations |
Growers, cooperatives, associations, producer groups |
Supply planning, export readiness, networking, and market expansion |
Important for input suppliers, packaging, and trade partners |
| Foodservice and hospitality buyers |
Hotel groups, catering companies, restaurant chains, institutional food buyers |
Menu sourcing and supplier qualification |
Secondary but useful audience for premium produce suppliers |
| Industry consultants and media |
Trade media, market analysts, agrifood consultants |
Influence, coverage, market intelligence |
Supports lead visibility, PR, and sector awareness |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area |
Likely Attendee Origin |
Buyer Concentration |
Notes |
| Host city: Thessaloniki |
Local producers, distributors, logistics firms, regional buyers |
High |
Strong proximity advantage for Greek agrifood supply chain participants |
| Host region: Central Macedonia and wider Greece |
National growers, exporters, packers, wholesalers, retail procurement teams |
High |
Greece’s fresh produce sector gives the event strong domestic sourcing relevance |
| Nearby business hubs |
Athens, Patras, Larissa, Volos, Kavala, Balkan trade corridor participants |
Medium to High |
Useful for regional sourcing, warehousing, and export logistics companies |
| National reach |
Greek supermarket chains, nationwide distributors, producer cooperatives, agri-export firms |
High |
Official hosted buyers program supports broader national B2B participation |
| International reach |
Importers, retail buyers, and traders from Europe, the Balkans, MENA, and wider export markets |
High |
International fresh produce trade focus makes cross-border buyers highly relevant |
| Trade corridors |
Mediterranean, Southeastern Europe, Black Sea, and EU supply chain participants |
Medium to High |
Particularly relevant for fresh produce movement, cold chain, and seasonal sourcing |
3. Audience Reach
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization |
Buyer Type |
Why It Is Relevant |
Website |
Best Job Titles to Target |
Evidence Level |
| Aldi |
Retail buyer |
High-volume grocery sourcing for fresh fruit and vegetables |
aldi.com |
Category Manager, Produce Buyer, Procurement Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Lidl |
Retail buyer |
Fresh produce category and cross-border supplier sourcing |
lidl.com |
Category Buyer, Fruit & Vegetable Buyer, Sourcing Director |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Carrefour |
Retail buyer |
International supermarket sourcing for fresh produce imports |
carrefour.com |
Fresh Produce Buyer, Category Manager, Supply Chain Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Tesco |
Retail buyer |
Fresh food sourcing and supplier development |
tesco.com |
Produce Buyer, Sourcing Manager, Commercial Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| METRO AG |
Wholesale buyer |
Wholesale fresh produce sourcing for foodservice and retail customers |
metroag.de |
Category Buyer, Procurement Lead, Fresh Food Sourcing Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Sainsbury’s |
Retail buyer |
Supermarket sourcing for fresh categories and supplier consolidation |
sainsburys.co.uk |
Buyer, Category Manager, Supply Chain Director |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Sysco |
Foodservice buyer |
Large-scale foodservice procurement of fruits and vegetables |
sysco.com |
Procurement Manager, Category Manager, Sourcing Director |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Keelings |
Importer / distributor |
Fresh produce importer and distributor with supplier relationship needs |
keelings.ie |
Purchasing Manager, Sourcing Manager, Commercial Director |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Dole |
Producer / trader / importer |
Global fresh produce sourcing, packing, and trade networks |
dole.com |
Global Sourcing Manager, Commercial Manager, Category Lead |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Bama Gruppen |
Fresh produce distributor |
Nordic produce sourcing and distribution |
bama.no |
Procurement Manager, Import Manager, Category Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Greek supermarket groups and food wholesalers |
Regional retail / wholesale buyer |
Directly aligned with domestic sourcing and distribution in Greece |
varies |
Head of Procurement, Produce Buyer, Commercial Director |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Agroberries |
Importer / trader / supplier |
Global berry sourcing and distribution aligns with event content |
agroberries.com |
Sourcing Manager, Commercial Director, Buyer |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| UNFI |
Distributor / wholesale buyer |
Large food distribution network with fresh produce sourcing needs |
unfi.com |
Category Manager, Purchasing Director, Sourcing Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Bidfood |
Foodservice distributor |
Fresh produce procurement for hospitality and foodservice channels |
bidfood.com |
Procurement Manager, Category Buyer, Commercial Manager |
Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority |
Job Title / Function |
Department |
Seniority Level |
Why This Role Matters |
| 1 | Chief Procurement Officer | Procurement | C-level | Owns sourcing strategy and supplier selection. |
| 2 | Director of Procurement | Procurement | Director | Controls supplier onboarding and contract negotiations. |
| 3 | Category Manager – Produce | Merchandising / Procurement | Manager | Direct buyer for fresh fruit and vegetable categories. |
| 4 | Strategic Sourcing Manager | Sourcing | Manager | Evaluates vendors, cost, quality, and supply continuity. |
| 5 | Import Manager | Trade / Logistics | Manager | Manages cross-border sourcing and compliance. |
| 6 | Supply Chain Director | Supply Chain | Director | Interested in logistics, cold chain, and continuity of supply. |
| 7 | Commercial Director | Commercial | Director | Drives trade partnerships, market expansion, and pricing decisions. |
| 8 | Export Manager | Sales / Trade | Manager | Looks for overseas buyers and trade routes. |
| 9 | Operations Director | Operations | Director | Evaluates service reliability and supply performance. |
| 10 | Logistics Manager | Logistics | Manager | Important for cold-chain, transport, and warehousing partners. |
| Priority |
Apollo Industry |
Why It Fits the Event |
Best Buyer Use Case |
| 1 | Food & Beverages | Primary sector for fresh fruit and vegetable trade | Retail, wholesale, and foodservice buyer targeting |
| 2 | Import & Export | International trade is central to the show | Cross-border sourcing and sales outreach |
| 3 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Cold chain, warehousing, and transport are crucial to produce trade | Logistics solution selling and supply partnerships |
| 4 | Wholesale | Wholesalers are core intermediaries in produce distribution | Distributor and bulk buyer targeting |
| 5 | Retail | Supermarket and grocery chains are high-value attendees | Category manager and buyer outreach |
| 6 | Consumer Goods | Fresh produce suppliers often serve consumer goods channels | Commercial and merchandising contacts |
| 7 | Supermarkets | Direct retail buyer segment for produce exhibitors | Procurement and category-level outreach |
| 8 | Facilities Services | Relevant for storage, handling, and event operations support | Cold storage and operational service sellers |
| 9 | Agriculture | Upstream production and producer organizations are relevant | Producer, cooperative, and farm network outreach |
| 10 | Events Services | Conference, hosted-buyer, and trade-show ecosystem partners | Partnership and sponsorship prospecting |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric |
Figure |
Status |
Source / Basis |
Notes |
| Estimated total footfall |
Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
Confirmed unavailable |
Official website does not publish a current-year footfall number in the provided content |
Use for lead-gen qualification, not volume forecasting |
| Exhibitor count |
Not publicly confirmed in the provided official content |
Confirmed unavailable |
Official site counter displays placeholder values rather than a verified current-year count |
Do not treat homepage counters as verified attendance data |
| Buyer count |
Hosted buyers program is confirmed; count not publicly stated |
Partially confirmed |
Official hosted buyers program reference on event website |
Supports buyer-intent lead generation |
| Speaker count |
Not publicly confirmed in the provided official content |
Confirmed unavailable |
Parallel events listed, but no consolidated speaker total provided |
Use official agenda updates if available later |
| Sponsor count |
Official sponsors/providers listed, but total count not stated |
Partially confirmed |
Official website sponsor/provider section |
Useful for ecosystem mapping |
| Historical attendance |
2026 news mentions 230 exhibitors from 10 countries and a 32% increase in foreign trade visitors |
Historical / prior-year evidence |
Official news section on event website |
Useful proxy only; not a confirmed 2027 attendance figure |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area |
Typical Buyer Need |
Buyer Engagement Opportunity |
Relevant Supplier Offering |
| Procurement | Reliable sourcing and competitive pricing | Direct buyer meetings and contract discussions | Fresh produce supply, sourcing support, procurement services |
| Export growth | Market access and international demand | Hosted buyer networking and trade meetings | Exporter services, trade support, market-entry consulting |
| Cold chain logistics | Product freshness and transit reliability | Engage buyers on transport and warehousing pain points | Reefer transport, cold storage, monitoring technology |
| Retail sourcing | Category depth, quality, and continuity | Buyer-category meetings with supermarkets and chains | Packhouse solutions, branded produce, category programs |
| Product innovation | New varieties and differentiated produce | Showcase to buyers looking for premium and seasonal products | Innovative cultivars, packaging, value-added produce |
| B2B partnerships | Trusted supplier relationships | Business matching and partnership introductions | Agency services, trade facilitation, distribution alliances |
| Education and market intelligence | Sector insight and compliance updates | Conference attendance and workshop participation | Training, advisory, analytics, industry publications |
| Factor |
Assessment |
Explanation |
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event is built around fresh produce procurement, trade, and export demand. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Hosted buyers, category managers, and commercial leadership are strong target profiles. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Useful official content exists, but verified current-year attendee counts are limited. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Excellent fit for retail, wholesale, logistics, import/export, and agrifood procurement filters. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Can be targeted by Greece, Balkans, Mediterranean, EU, and international fresh produce markets. |
| Best outreach approach | Direct and account-based | Focus on buyer titles, supplier qualification, and meeting-booking outreach before the event. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Strong B2B commerce orientation with clear buyer intent. |
| Best use case | Buyer list building and sales prospecting | Best suited for lead generation, attendee profiling, and targeted outreach to fresh produce decision-makers. |
| Limitations / risks | Attendance disclosure gap | No public current-year buyer list or final footfall count in the provided official content. |
| Filter Type |
Recommended Filters |
Purpose |
| Apollo industries | Food & Beverages; Import & Export; Logistics & Supply Chain; Retail; Wholesale; Supermarkets; Agriculture; Consumer Goods | Capture the strongest buyer and channel ecosystem |
| Departments | Procurement; Purchasing; Supply Chain; Operations; Commercial; Sales; Merchandising | Reach decision-makers and influencer functions |
| Seniority | C-level; VP; Director; Head; Manager | Prioritize people with buying authority or budget influence |
| Job titles | Chief Procurement Officer; Procurement Director; Category Manager; Produce Buyer; Sourcing Manager; Commercial Director; Import Manager; Supply Chain Director; Logistics Manager | Target fresh produce and trade decision-makers |
| Geography | Greece; Balkans; Southeast Europe; Mediterranean; EU; MENA | Match the event’s trade corridor and buyer base |
| Employee size | 51–200; 201–500; 501–1,000; 1,001–5,000; 5,000+ | Prioritize firms with real sourcing programs and commercial teams |
| Keywords | fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, sourcing, procurement, import, export, cold chain, supermarket, wholesale, distribution | Capture event-specific demand signals |
| Company type | Retailers; wholesalers; distributors; importers; exporters; producer groups; foodservice distributors | Align with the show’s core buyer ecosystem |
| Revenue range | Use mid-market and enterprise ranges where available | Prioritize organizations with active procurement teams |
| Source |
Type |
What It Verified |
Reliability |
| FRESKON Official Website |
Official organizer source |
Event name, dates, venue, city, hosted buyers program, parallel events, event positioning, organizer details |
Very High |
| Official website news section |
Organizer news / prior-year evidence |
Historical exhibitor and foreign trade visitor references from 2026-related news |
High for historical evidence |
| Official homepage counters and sections |
Organizer website content |
Presence of exhibitor catalogue, visitor registration, hosted buyers program, and professional-only entry policy |
High |
| TIF-HELEXPO / organizer contact and site branding |
Organizer identity confirmation |
Organizer association with the event and Thessaloniki exhibition center |
Very High |