GIF 2025

Event Overview

The Lebanese Breakfast Event Türkiye, held Spring 2024 at the Istanbul International Expo Center, was organized by AGI Holding to showcase Lebanese food products in a cultural and trade–focused format. The event drew Lebanese producers, Turkish importers, trade associations, and diplomats, offering a curated breakfast experience and structured B2B matchmaking. Attendees included representatives from Turkish retail chains, hospitality groups, and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.

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AGI Holding’s Execution

• Breakfast Stations (6 Total):
  1. Za’atar Station: Fresh flatbreads brushed with high-quality za’atar blends, served alongside olive oil tastings.
  2. Labneh Station: Creamy labneh served with thyme, olive oil, and sesame; accompanied by artisan pita.
  3. Artisanal Olive Oil: PDO extra-virgin olive oil from Bekaa Valley, with tasting flights for acidity and flavor profile.
  4. Halloumi Grill: Hot halloumi cheese slices drizzled with local honey, showcasing pairing possibilities with Royal B Georgian honey.
  5. Preserves & Spreads: Jars of muhammara, fig jam, and preserved lemons for sampling.
  6. Arabic Coffee & Sweets: Traditional Lebanese coffee served with baklava and ma’amoul.
• Product Showcase Tables (10): Each Lebanese SME (olive oil producers, cheese makers, honey farmers, preserve artisans) displayed products with brand ambassadors detailing production methods and certifications.
• Trade Clinic Booths (3 Parallel Tracks):
  1. Regulatory & Labeling: AGI consultants guided producers on Turkish and GCC packaging requirements, nutritional labeling, and HALAL certification pathways.
  2. Logistics & Customs: Detailed breakdowns of tariff codes, VAT processes, and expedited customs clearance routes for Turkey and Gulf ports.
  3. Retail & Marketing Strategy: AGI’s marketing team provided templates and guidance on shelf placement strategies, pricing negotiations, and promotional planning for Turkish retail chains.

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Event Highlights

• B2B Matchmaking Sessions: Pre-scheduled 25 one-on-one meetings between Lebanese SMEs and 15 Turkish importers/retail buyers, each slot lasting 15 minutes.
• LOI Signing Ceremony: In the closing segment, five Letters of Intent were signed:
  • Three agreements for pilot imports of extra-virgin olive oil (total: 2 tonnes) to prominent Istanbul retailers.
  • Two agreements for dairy product pilots (labneh, halloumi) to hotel and restaurant groups.
• Networking Brunch: Following the formal sessions, an extended networking brunch allowed for informal discussions between buyers, producers, and AGI consultants. Over 100 attendees participated in open networking over Lebanese breakfast dishes.

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Outcomes and Impact

• Export Pilots Initiated: Turkish importer IPEK Gıda placed a pilot order of 2 tonnes of extra-virgin olive oil for Q3 2024 distribution in Istanbul’s high-end grocery stores.
• Consultancy Engagement: AGI’s Trade Clinic booths attracted 60+ visitors seeking guidance, resulting in a 25% increase in AGI’s food-trade advisory requests during Q2 2024.
• Cultural Diplomacy Success: Strengthened ties between Lebanese producers and Turkish business associations; led to an invitation from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce for AGI to co-host a “Mediterranean Food Week” in late 2024.
• Recurring Forum Established: AGI announced the Lebanese Breakfast™ as a biannual series, with the next edition planned for Dubai in Q4 2024.