Working Closer Together – Canadian Style
By Margurite Thiessen
Greater collaboration between companies in the agriculture and food supply chain is being described as one of the best options for improved competitiveness. Farmers, food processors, distributors, retailers and other players are applying strategies for increased profitability for all stakeholders.
Opportunities for collaboration are captured worldwide and are worth the continuing attention by Canada’s agriculture and food sector. To ensure information is available to the industry, the four Western Canada Value Chain Initiatives have collaborated to deliver education on value chain development. Two upcoming educational events to note are: Crafting Value Chain Strategies, Module 1 and 2 Workshops and Customer Focused Collaboration- Mastering Value Chain Implementation, an advanced value chain management program.
These two opportunities provide a venue to network and increase your knowledge and skills to ensure your collaborative efforts are a success.
In Alberta, Crafting Value Chain Strategies, Module 1 and 2 Workshops are being held on January 14 and 15, 2008 in Leduc. These modules are designed to promote the understanding of value chains and introduce the philosophy of developing capabilities. The workshops provide a framework and tools to help you get started with your value chain development. Richard Broadwith, a partner with BCI Marketing Partners is a strategy consultant experienced in market research and business analysis. Richard has been instrumental in developing a wide range of collaborative innovations in the agriculture and food sector.
For those involved in an established value chain, the advanced management program “Customer Focused Collaboration” is being offered on March 4-6, 2008 in Calgary. Learn how to leverage global expertise and network with a dynamic group of suppliers, producers, processors and marketers in a highly interactive environment designed to advance the application and management of value chain capabilities. David Parker of ABG Inc. will facilitate this program again, along with Executives in Residence Michael O’Keeffe and Bill Dover. All three of these speakers bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from the agriculture and food supply chain. Michael will be presenting a breakout session called - “Retail Scanning Data: Insights and Execution” and Bill will be presenting a breakout session called - “Managing Growth in Food Service Value Chains”.
