The future of New Zealand's kiwifruit industry comes under intense scrutiny in Tauranga next week when Zespri hosts the 2014 Momentum conference.

With a working theme of 'The Shape of our Future”,the fourth Momentum conference focuses on exploring the future global competitive environment in which growers and Zespri will operate.

Zespri is hosting the 2014 Momentum conference in Tauranga next week.

It will be held on November 6 and 7at Mt Maunganui's ASB Arena and is designed to showcase leading business and industry thinkers, and expose delegates to the global environment and trends which affect their businesses and futures.

Thought-provoking international and national speakers will address topics which directly impact the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, including the global economy, the future of China, the future of retail and where the global produce industry is heading.

Among the keynote speakers are: Cameron Bagrie, Chief Economist for ANZ New Zealand, Jacqueline Rowarth, Professor of Agribusiness at University of Waikato, Doug Stephens one of the world's foremost retail industry futurists.

They'll be joined by Chris White, managing director of Market Intelligence, the publisher of Eurofruit, Asiafruitand other industry publications, Xavier Naville, founder of Creative Food and a key supplier to major China restaurant chains, and Frank Gibson, who has been advising international companies on China business issues for more than 20 years.

Also on the programme is ahigh-energy interactive session with Zespri's global sales and marketing team and a series of focused orchard and business management specialist sessions which are designed to directly link back to growers' everyday business.

A highlight of the Momentum Conference gala dinner on Thursday night will be the presentation of the Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal to a recipient who has made significant contributions to the kiwifruit industry.

Anyone wishing to attend has until 5pm tomorrow (Thursday, October 30) to register. For more information contact: events@zespri.com or view the whole programme at: www.zesprievents.co.nz/event?id=205