www.agroalimentaire-npdc.com - The site for agribusiness in Nord-Pas de Calais

"Nord-Pas de Calais Agribusiness Innovation Day"

The "Nord-Pas de Calais Agribusiness Innovation Day" provided an opportunity to highlight recent trends in innovation throughout the region and to announce the names of the prizewinners of the inaugural competition for innovative food products in Nord-Pas de Calais.

It took place on Tuesday 28 September 2004 from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, in the main lobby of the Metropolitan Lille CCI, located at the Place du Théâtre in Lille.


PROGRAMME

2:00 pm – Words of welcome

Jean-Marie Raoult - Chairman of the Promotion Committee

Jean-Claude Benit - Chairman of CERTIA Interface

2:30 pm – Round table

Why hold an agribusiness innovation competition in Nord-Pas de Calais?

Overview of innovation trends presented for the competition

How to achieve better risk control during new product launches

Financial aid measures for regional companies

What are the objectives and challenges of innovation in the food industry sector?

Avec :
JJean-Marie Alexandre – Regional Council

Marina Chalavon – Nord-Pas de Calais Promotion Committee

Michel Hermand – Chairman of the PIA

Catherine Larieux – ANVAR

Frédérique Martin – CERTIA Interface

Elizabeth Van Hecke – Food Industry Department, Lille Polytechnic University

Isabelle Wallart – Food Industry Department, Lille Polytechnic University

Chaired by Pierre-Marie Courtin – Institute of Agriculture

13:30 pm – AWARD CEREMONY

4:30 PM – Tour of mini-exhibit, tasting of the products of the 16 finalists and prizewinners.


Organizations offering their support to innovative regional companies

The rewards conferred on the finalist companies are not limited to special designations, medals or other honours, but also include numerous support mechanisms that focus attention on these companies' efforts to innovate:

Prizes awarded to all 16 finalists

All of the institutional partners of the SIAL Exhibition: Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council, Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Regional Chamber of Agriculture (Nord-Pas de Calais Promotion Committee), DRAF, NFX, CERTIA Interface Promotion of the 16 finalist companies and their products in the regional stand's Innovation Showcase at the SIAL Exhibition – Hall 5A, Aisle H, Stand 79 from 17 to 21 October at Paris-Villepinte.
CERTIA Interface* - Preparation of a presentation kit on the competency centres, the 16 finalist companies and their products.

- Provision of a logo identifying the prize-winning products.
Nord-Pas de Calais Promotion Committee, a department of the Regional Chamber of Agriculture, with the mission of promoting agribusiness and regional food products and restaurants. - Organization of Innovation Day.

- Presentation of the 16 finalist companies on the website, saveurs-npdc.com, as well as on the website, www.agroalimentaire-npdc.com, in specifically dedicated sections of the sites.

- Distribution of innovation kits to over 1,400 buyers from various distribution channels (mass merchandisers, institutional food services, shops, etc.).

- Press relations.
Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry: provides consulting services to businesses via a network of "innovation specialists". Use of the main lobby of the Lille Metropolitan CCI for the awards ceremony.
Pôle des Industries Alimentaires (Food Industries Forum): a place where regional food industry participants can exchange ideas and engage in collective actions. A subscription to the newsletter and free membership in the PIA for the four prizewinners.

Prizes for the winning companies

AXIS Conseil - Consulting services in operational marketing.

41 rue de l’Arc in Lille

Tel: +33 (0)3 20 57 96 16

 Two half-days of consulting services on sales development, operational marketing, public relations and new product launches, with an overall value of €1,200 incl. VAT. These two half-days may be divided up as follows: one half-day for cottage industry-type prizewinners and one half-day for prize-winning SMEs, in order to deal more effectively with individual needs.
The Pasteur Institute* Three training modules in hygiene and food safety divided up as follows in accordance with company size and needs:

- Registration for one person in the training module entitled "Why practice hygiene?" which will be held on 31 March 2005 at Villeneuve d’Ascq (value: €210 excl. VAT), for the companies, EVIN and Jeanson.

- Registration for one person in the training module entitled "An active approach to food safety (the HACCP method)" which will be held from 13 to 15 December 2005 at Villeneuve d’Ascq (value: €1,030 excl. VAT), for Speedwich.
CEVPM* €1,500 incl. VAT for quality assurance analyses (microbiological, chemical, biochemical, etc.). This sum is divided up as follows between the two finalist companies from the seafood and fisheries sector:

- 70%, or €1,050 incl. VAT, for the company, JC David, winner of the Pleasure Product Prize,

- 30%, or €450 incl. VAT, for the company, Simon Dutriaux, competition finalist.
ISA* Performance of a joint hedonic analysis (with 60 consumers) for the four prizewinners (a value of €1,500 incl. VAT).
Food Industry Department, Lille Polytechnic University* A "War Room" session (organized over two half-days), involving the transmission of a complete methodology for data collection and processing, creative marketing and innovative project management based on use of the ICTs.

This approach can be easily replicated and is adaptable for small or medium-sized enterprises and industries.
Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council Innovation trophies

For those working in the mass merchandising sector:

LThe major retail chains operating in the region (Auchan and Carrefour, in particular) will present certain finalist products corresponding to their product listing criteria in their future regional product tracts.

* Contact information and mission statements are given in the innovation kits.