March 2023 Roundup

March 2024 saw the Catalyze team involved with multiple exciting events!

Our Managing Director, Rex Bowden, kicked off the month with a trip to Anaheim California to attend Natural Products Expo West, the leading trade show in the natural, organic, and healthy products industry. Expo West provides a valuable opportunity for in-person discovery, drawing buyers from big box and small independent retailers, who are seeking the hottest products in organic and natural foods, clean beauty and home products, and supplements and ingredients. Rex met with over 150 U.S. brands and buyers about the quality and quantity of premium natural products available in Africa.

Catalyze arranged a group of 10 South African exporters to exhibit at IFE London, funded by SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency). IFE (International Food & Drink Event) has a 40-year history, and serves as a vital resource for buyers in retail, wholesale, and hospitality, showcasing new products, trends, and insights. The South African stand included Siwela Wines, Coti Chocolate Manufacturers, Kaama Food Family, Nutcracker Processors, Kitchen360, Chi Time Teas, Sweet Thing Meringues, Uni Brands, Two in a Bush, and Buttercup Farmhouse, and Catalyze set up opportunities for these exporters to meet with leading U.K. & EU Buyers at the event.

At the end of March, Rex escorted a group of Western Cape companies to Agrofood Nigeria, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture Western Cape (DoAWC). With Africa's massive, growing population, along with African countries driving Intra-Africa trade and opportunity, South African exporters have a huge opportunity to expand their reach. Featured brands included De Pizan Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Friesland, Leonista, Moedi, Spicy Bulldog, Tempus Dynamics, KarooPak and Aslina Wines.

While in Nigeria, Rex also attended Tech Unite Africa, a premium tech event in Africa, that included a number of seminars, training, and conferences on issues relating to the development of the tech industry in Africa. Catalyze has a strong and passionate involvement in the African Tech space, which is only growing with their newest project Africa Tech Startup Forum.