Two European Commissioners, representatives from farmers, retailers and consumers together with CEO's from large European food companies will participate in the upcoming Sommet Alimentaire Europeen (European Food Summit) that will take place on 11 - 12 April 2002, under the aegis of the CIAA, the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industry in the EU.
Highlights of the summit include Claude Fischler, professor at French government research laboratories CNRS, who will summarise the results of a number of studies carried out on today's consumers' behaviour in Europe and in other parts of the world.
Franz Fischler, Member of the European Commission for Agriculture, will respond to the question 'How does the European Agricultural Policy contribute to quality?' and David Byrne, Member of the European Commission for Health and Consumer Protection, will share his vision of a "quality-driven single market".
Claude Hauser, chairman of the Board of Migros, will outline the vision of quality of a major retailer. Gerd Sonnleitner, president of COPA, and Ann Davison, president of the Consumers and Environment Category of the European Economic and Social Committee and leader of the British Consumers' Association, "Foodaware", will represent farmers and consumers respectively, and will participate in a debate with the industry representatives.
Finally, CEOs from major food companies in Europe - Antony Burgmans (Unilever), Peter Brabeck-Letmathe (Nestle), Sir Richard George (WEETABIX) and Roger Deromedi (Kraft Food International) - will present the accomplishments made to ensure quality and will demonstrate ways to ensure that the consumer continues to have faith in the food industry.