Palestinian Delicacies

Another great Fancy Food Show in New York and another opportunity to work with some great people and fantastic products!

The AmCham Palestine, headed by Montasser Abdellatif, represented some outstanding and interesting products at this year's show.  Six companies were on the docket, including Canaan Fair Trade with their line-up of unique olive oil varietals and tapenades, Nakheel Palestine featuring dates and date products, Al-Hathnawi Trading company herbs and extracts, Al Naser Factory packaged grains, Emirates Delight Marketing and their Medjoul dates and syrups, and West Bank Salt Works adding spice to life with natural and flavored Dead Sea salt.

In addition to all of the companies manning their booths during the show, a special breakfast event featured NASFT president Ann Daw and other speakers as well as representatives from all areas of the food industry.

HMA's intrepid videographer, Steve Newton, captured highlights of the event and compiled a short video presentation which can be viewed at http://hammanmarketing.com/food-and-beverage.php or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgigLwLKm6c.  For those who would like a PDF of the pavilion brochure detailing the products and contact information, write me and it will be on the way.

Many thanks to DAI and the USAID Project Compete for their generous support.  We wish the Palestinian companies great success in their pursuit of the US market!

Our Man in Addis

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is a fascinating place filled with sights, sounds and tastes I’d never before experienced.  But the trip would have been nothing without Our Man in Addis…John Brinkhurst.

Hamman Marketing reached out for a key associate in Addis Ababa to help coordinate and manage a proposed program to promote and increase the international sales of Ethiopia’s key export, coffee.  We knew that to effectively manage the program, an in-country colleague with deep business credentials was crucial, and after a long search, are pleased to announce that John is our man.

John is an international commercial & operational business advisor, with particular emphasis and experience in support services to or within the oil & gas, mining, international supply chain, logistics and transportation sectors.  With many years based in East, West and Central Africa John speaks both French and English.  He holds an MBA and Marketing Diploma from Cranfield School of Management UK, and his career highlights include Managing Director roles in West Africa with DHL, in Azerbaijan with BP/ASCO, in Saudi Arabia with TNT and in Dubai with an Emirates/Agility joint venture.

John’s areas of expertise include start-ups and turnarounds, business development, and supply chain optimization in Africa, Europe, Middle East and Caspian regions.  Also a great fit for our coffee mission in Ethiopia.

 

John & TG

Oh, and did I mention that John is part owner in a restaurant in Addis Ababa called Hyde Park Bar and Restaurant?  On top of everything else, you can get authentic Ethiopian cuisine (and perfunctory British pub chow) there from a kitchen carefully monitored by partner Tigist Abate, or TG.  The injera TG had prepared for us—a fasting preparation without meat—was delicious!  And what a wonderful way to share a meal and get to know someone.

Injera at Hyde Park

Want to make contact with ‘Our Man in Addis'?  You can reach John by phone at +251 910 668 731, or by email at johnbrinkhurst [at] hammanmarketing.com.