The 4th training weekend of Agrifood Leadership 2024-2025 was successfully completed from Friday, January 21, to Sunday, January 23, 2025, in Thessaloniki. This educational program focused on the theme “Marketing Strategy: Export Marketing & Export Market Research,” marking another significant milestone in the journey of Agrifood Leadership. The program is implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), with the support of Rutgers University (USA) as a Technical and Strategic Advisor and under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
During the training, participants had the opportunity to enrich their knowledge through educational activities, on-site visits, and networking events, strengthening their leadership skills in the agri-food sector. The program’s trainer was Babis Filadarlis, MBA, MIEx., DipM., Export Strategist.
First Day: A Visit to Lidl Hellas Logistics Center
The first day of training began with a visit to the Lidl Hellas Logistics Center in Sindos, the largest Lidl logistics center in the Balkans. Participants had the honor of attending a presentation by Martin Brandenburger, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lidl Hellas, who shared the company’s philosophy, vision, and strategic goals while answering questions and engaging in discussions with attendees.
“We are delighted to share Lidl Hellas’ knowledge, innovation, and experience with young professionals who envision Greece as a leader in the agri-food sector. As we already demonstrate—with 67% of our turnover coming from Greek suppliers—we will continue to be key players in the effort for high-quality products,” Mr. Brandenburger emphasized.
He was welcomed by Effie Lazaridou, CEO of New Agriculture New Generation, and Dimitris Voloudakis, Program Director.
Following that, Nikos Lysigakis, Senior Consultant for Corporate Affairs at Lidl Hellas, presented the company’s initiatives within the framework of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance), highlighting the best practices followed by Lidl Hellas.
The first day concluded with training by Babis Filadarlis on export strategies and marketing.
Second Day: Deep Dive into Export Strategies
The training continued on the second day at the Lidl Hellas Logistics Center, focusing on the same theme. Mr. Filadarlis conducted interactive training sessions, analyzing successful case studies from the industry.
A Strong Learning and Networking Platform
The 4th Agrifood Leadership training session provided a strong learning and collaboration platform, bringing participants closer together and laying the foundation for shaping a new generation of leaders in the agri-food sector. Through educational and experiential activities, participants developed leadership skills, strengthened teamwork, and were inspired by the growth potential of the Greek agrifood industry.
Additionally, this year’s participants had the opportunity to interact with program alumni, exchanging experiences and insights.
The organization New Agriculture New Generation expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Lidl Hellas, sponsor of the training weekend, for its excellent hospitality, impeccable organization, and invaluable support in hosting the program.
