The six exhibition halls of Inter Expo Center welcomed 21 160 people during the largest exhibitions in the food industry and the Horeca sector in Bulgaria – Meatmania, The World of milk Bulpek, Salon de Vin, Interfood & Drink and Sihre. There was registered an extremely strong international presence by this year’s exhibitors and visitors.
From 9 to November 12, 2016 , 416 exhibitors and 362 companies sub-exhibitors from 32 countries, 71 foreign companies from Germany, Greece, Qatar, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Italy, Austria, Greece, Spain, Poland and France, contributed to the largest forum for successful business in the country and the region. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers from Bulgaria and dozens of other countries presented the latest achievements of the food industry and HoReCa sector – food, beverage, raw materials, machinery, technology, measuring equipment, packaging, hotel, restaurant equipment and furniture ,services.
“I am happy and I am delighted that once again we will present achievements in the food industry. Bulgaria produces some of the best food and this is so evident today,” with these words Mrs.Desislava Taneva -Minister of Agriculture and Food opened the international exhibitions. “This is the best year for the exhibitions in their 10-year history since we merged the 6 sectors until now,” commented Mr.Ivaylo Ivanov -Manager of Inter Expo Center at the opening. “Today is a celebration for Bulgarian products and the exhibitions are a way to make sure that the Bulgarian taste is the best,” said the national Ombudsman Mrs.Maya Manolova.
Collective participation of Bulgarian meat processors, dairy processorss, wine producers, processors of fruits and vegetables, organic producers and collective participations from Italy and South Korea enriched the largest exhibitions in the food industry. Embassies of the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Poland also participated in the forum.
Meatmania,The World of Milk, Bulpek, Salon de Vin, Interfood & Drink and Sihre had an extensive program of over 20 business events and initiatives .
For the first year the Bulgarian Industrial Association and Enterprise Europe Network, with support from Inter Expo Center ,organized the Food4Life bilateral business meetings. The event was attended by a record number of 120 companies from 16 countries that held more than 200 business meetings, making the event the most successful platform for making business in a real environment.
German business delegation led by the organization German Meat, bringing together some of the biggest meat producers and meat processors, met with Bulgarian companies and retail chains.
All professional exhibition thematics received an opportunity to present high quality products and innovations in the sector. Bulgarian meat and dairy products, bread, a variety of Bulgarian and foreign wines, organic production and healthy lifestyle defined commanded the tempo of the hours during the past four exhibition days.
31 companies were awarded gold medals for food and drinks. They were honored in the 2016 Gold Medal Diploma with Diploma Contest for quality and original market products and / or additives presented by the companies. In the days of the exhibitions there were also awarded prizes of the National Best Packaging Competition Prize Pack 2016.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea organized the participation of chefs who presented Korean cuisine during the international exhibitions. In this way they popularized Korean lifestyle.
The Korean booth each day demonstrated how to prepare of many traditional dishes from chefs and Chef Hyung-soo Yim. The theme, which was chosen by the Asian guest was: Korean food – tasty and useful. Cheong-Kwan-Jang – the ginseng of kings, Hongsamjung Solgi – Rice cakes with ginseng extract , Bibimbap – mesh rice and many other delights were tasted by the guests of the Korean booth.
During SIHRE there was held the first edition of a new culinary forum – Gastronomix. The event is organized by the Bulgarian Association of Professional chefs. Chefs and students from high schools and colleges with culinary profile competed in the culinary competition UniChef, which is organized by Unilever Food Solutions.
For the first time in Bulgaria there was held a round of Espresso Italiano Champion, in which 10 of the best Bulgarian baristas competed for the right to represent Bulgaria at the World Cup in Italy in 2017.
Some of the numerous visitors at the exhibitions went back home with prizes. On November 12, there were drawn the names of the winners in the questionnaire game.
21,160 visitors, 416 exhibitors and over 200 bilateral business meetings this year turned Inter Expo Center into a generator of successful business.