National Union of Food Exporters is a voluntary non-profit organization created to bring together, coordinate and represent the common interests of exporters of Russian food and agricultural products.

 The Union was founded in 1999 by three Russian food producers: the largest Russian producer of juices ("Wimm-Bill-Dann"), the largest producer of vegetable oil (‛Efirnoye") and the meat producing company "Protein Product".

 Currently, among the members of the Union are the largest producers and exporters of Russian foodstuffs, suppliers of unique products , insurance and legal companies, exhibition organizations, consulting firms, publishing houses, academies.

The leaders of the Union are mebers of FAO Group of Experts on Agricultural Trade in Europe and Central Asia, the Committee for the Development of Agro-Industrial Complex and the Council for the Foreign Economic Relations of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

 

National Union of  Food Exporters interacts with Russian trade missions abroad and foreign embassies in Russia.

 

 

 Membership in the Union gives its members a number of benefits:

• assistance in finding new markets and partners;

• business missions to foreign countries;

• press promotion in Russia and abroad (publications in the journal "AGROS");

• assistance in obtaining legal support;

• eliminating trade barriers;

• assistance in attracting foreign investors;

• sending commercial offers;

• participate in contests;

• Logo placement on the website of the Union;

• invitations to discussions (the State Duma, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Russia, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, international organizations).

 

 

MERCHANTS CLUB is a division of the National Union of Food Exporters, founded specifically to boost imports of ingredients for the production of export products.

Many Russian food companies import ingredients needed to produce export products.  For example, confectionary factories import cocoa beans, tea factories import tea for blending, wineries import wine materials, enterprises of other industries import other ingredients as well as related materials (packaging, closures, corks, bottles, etc.).

The total volume of Russian imports of agricultural and food products is more than $30 billion a year.

Importing organic products and establishing contacts with foreign producers is of particular interest.

Russian companies are also interested in acquiring technologies for processing, packaging, logistics and storage, food safety.

In this regard, members of MERCHANTS CLUB are interested in attending exhibitions in foreign countries as hosted buyers.

        

              MERCHANTS CLUB assists foreign companies in promoting their products on the Russian market in the following areas:

Information about the Russian markets

- Basic information about the Russian markets for agricultural and food products.

- Russian agencies involved in the import of agricultural and food products with contact information.

- Databases of Russian companies purchasing this product, with their contact information.

- List of the most effective food exhibitions in Russia.

Organization of meetings with Russian partners

Meetings are held in Moscow or regions of Russia. Representatives of Russian importing companies are invited to the meetings.

During the meetings, bilateral negotiations, presentations and tastings of the presented products are organized.

Participation in international food exhibitions in Russia

MERCHANTS CLUB recommends the exhibitions that are the most effective for promoting goods to Russia.

During the exhibitions, it is possible to present products at an individual or collective stand, participate in the business program, hold presentations and tastings.

A calendar of the most well-known and effective food exhibitions in Russia is published in AGROS magazine.

Business missions to foreign countries

MERCHANTS CLUB organizes business missions to foreign countries (also during international exhibitions) for Russian importing companies at the invitation of foreign partners. It is also possible to visit the enterprises of partner company.

These missions help Russian food importing companies to establish new contacts with foreign producers.

MERCHANTS CLUB has already organized visits to foreign exhibitions in such countries as India, China, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, Hong Kong.

The geography of the MERCHANTS CLUB's business missions is constantly expanding.

Publications in AGROS magazine

 AGROS is a quarterly magazine aimed at the promotion of foreign trade in agricultural and food products.

 AGROS is a winner of the Contest "Best Russian Exporter" in the nomination "Assistance in promoting exports - the best media."

The publication is distributed to Russian organizations and enterprises, exporters and importers, retailers, concerned ministries and agencies.

An electronic version of the magazine is available online on the website of the National Union of Food Exporters www.prodexport.ru

Foreign companies are welcome to publish information on various products and services and thus to bring such information to potential partners in different regions of Russia.