When I first joined MorePeople back in June 2023, I had no real idea what Fruit Logistica was or the true scale of the industry I was stepping into.
Fast forward two and a half years. Fresh off the back of a successful London incentive, Andy dropped me a message asking how Berlin sounded for the 2026 Fruit Logistica. Honestly? I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’d heard it was a great laugh, a real eye-opener… and being someone who rarely says no to an opportunity, I jumped at it.
I was warned about the weather, minus seven degrees, “feels like” minus sixteen. Hat, gloves and a proper coat were non-negotiable.
From the moment we arrived, the sheer scale of the show was staggering. Myself, Jamie and Kieran were first-timers and were guided by seasoned visitors Tom and Andy. Our first impression? The size. The second? The crowds. At times, it felt almost impossible not to trip over someone’s feet, which, in itself, is a brilliant sign for the strength and energy of the industry.
While we pride ourselves on having a strong grasp of the UK produce market, walking across 20+ halls spread over multiple floors was genuinely eye-opening. As a business, we predominantly focus on the UK, with ad hoc international recruitment. But being surrounded by companies from every corner of the globe really put things into perspective.
There were far more unfamiliar names than familiar ones, all navigating the same challenges. Rising costs. Supply chain pressures. Expansion into new markets. The race to be technologically advanced. Different countries, different businesses, but very similar conversations.
And as you can imagine, when you’re talking to a recruiter, talent was a hot topic.
Despite the uncertainty in the UK at the moment, the industry remains resilient. The message was clear: if you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards. Throwing money at a problem might provide short-term relief, but it’s the right people, the leaders who can drive change, shape culture, and execute strategy, who truly make the difference.
Operations Directors. Managing Directors. Heads of Procurement. The common theme in our conversations was how businesses can stay competitive and ensure that when top talent enters the market, they choose them.
It does feel slightly strange flying to another country to meet clients who could be just a couple of hours down the road. But that’s exactly what we did. With five of us attending and a packed schedule of meetings, we divided and conquered, catching up with long-standing contacts and building new relationships. We spoke about plans for the year ahead, reflected on the challenges of the last twelve months, and discussed how we can support their growth ambitions.
As many of you will know (or may have experienced yourselves), the journey home was somewhat chaotic. But this is fresh produce. When does a plan ever go perfectly? We’re used to navigating the unexpected.
Now, two weeks on, the momentum hasn’t slowed. The team and I are following up on every conversation and even the ones we didn’t quite get to have. We’re setting up further meetings, arranging site visits, and continuing discussions around how we can support our clients with the right talent solutions for the year ahead.
For me personally, what started in June 2023 as stepping into an unknown industry has turned into standing in the middle of one of its biggest global events. And if this year was my introduction to Fruit Logistica, I can already see why it’s a date firmly fixed in the calendar.
