Brno / CZ. (tfb) In the first March week the largest show of the food industry and related branches in new EU member countries will be staged. The complex of four fairs (Salima, MBK, Inteco, Vinex) and two specialist projects (Trends 2008 and Organic Food) will involve, by its broad scope, the whole food industry production, processing, business and gastronomy.
Czech market has been ever more demanding
First years following the accession of the Czech Republic to EU confirmed the quality and vitality of Czech agriculture and food industry in spite of fears. Czech producers of foodstuffs and drinks successfully coped with their competitors from both the neighbouring countries and the EU 15 countries. Purchase power has been growing on the Czech market and consumption of food and drinks has been continuously rising since 2004. In 2006 the Czechs spent about 235 billion CZK on food, drinks and tobacco. Altogether 40 percent of this amount went to imported commodities, however, also Czech producers have been ever more successful on foreign markets. Negative trade balance of the food-industry sector has been deepening, attaining in 2006 as much as 2,1 billion CZK, on the other hand, however, Czech exports of food have recently been more quickly growing than imports.
The Czech Republic has become a fixed part of the advanced European food market, demand for commodities of high quality and a higher added value has been increasing. Branded products have been more sold and ever more citizens start preferring healthy nutrition. Market proportion of gastronomic business channels and catering has been growing. All these trends will be reflected in the complex of four international fairs Salima staged from 04 to 07 March at the Brno Exhibition Centre.
Organic food – one of the Salima key topics
Also the past runs of the Salima Fair dealt with environment-friendly agriculture and organic products, however, not as much as this time. The choice of major topic is now based on long-year development trends as organic food has been the most quickly growing segment of the world market in food. The interest in the products of environment-friendly agriculture and certified organic food has been increasing also in our country, however, is far behind the West-European countries and most organic food sold in the Czech Republic has been imported so far. Salima 2008 will be therefore aimed in particular at quality products of Czech provenance promoted by the special stand Organic Food, also offering their tasting. At the fair results of the sixth specialist competition «Czech organic food of the year» will be announced whose partner will be, for the first time, also the company Trade Fairs Brno along with the Food Chamber of the Czech Republic.
Wednesday 05 March will be announced as the day of organic food and also the conference «Organic food in catering facilities – Health and sustainability on a plate» will be staged within the specialist accompanying program. It will be the first international conference in the Czech Republic and Central Europe dealing with catering from the point of view of healthy and ecological advantages of the foodstuffs consumed.
Trends 2008
As in the past run also this time food producers and distributors can take part in the project Trends aimed at presenting the latest products of a healthy nutrition, new trends in the industry of food and drinks as well as modern trends in catering. The successful premiere at Salima 2006 presented trendy food and drinks of fifty producers. Also the project Trends 2008 will produce novelties and interesting products in glass showcases; they will be divided into six categories. «Go Future!» will present foodstuffs of the future, «Go Trends!» modern catering for an active life, «Go Travel!» will be focused on regional specialties and international kitchen, «Go Kids!» will display trends in catering of children and youth and the category «Go Special!» will be devoted to dietary and special foodstuffs. The new category «Go Organic» is targeted for certified organic food and products of environment-friendly agriculture.
The stands of both special projects – Organic Food and Trends 2008 – will be located in Hall D. Visitors will be able to acquaint, in the only place, with the complex offer of foodstuffs for a healthy lifestyle.
A chance for exporters
Salima is a recognized showcase of the Czech food industry. Its past run was attended by 5.000 foreign professionals. Also the Czech Trade Agency ranks the fair among its priority activities; the agency will stage, at the Exhibition Centre, a meeting with managers of its offices and commercial counsellors from 30 countries. Czech producers will be able to consult, directly at the fair, about their exportation intentions at the appointments with specialists in individual markets. The pro-exportation character of the fair will be also strengthened by foreign missions of dealers and other professionals invited, in cooperation with the Czech Trade Agency, by show organizers. The common objective is to expand the pro-exportation commodities by some more segments. A positive balance in exports has been shown by dairy products and drinks and also by beer and malt. The offer of technologies for brewing, which is our strong exportation branch, will be much broader. Clients (professional visitors) interviewed in particular suppliers of mini-breweries and were interested in their technologies and components; this time they will be housed in Hall A2.
Branded commodities have the chance of being successful not only on the international, but also on the Czech market. Salima creates a number of opportunities for building a trademark. As in the past runs also this time trademarks KLASA will be granted at the fair and awarded products will be also presented on the enormous stand SZIF. The best exhibits will be appraised in the competitions Golden Salima, Trends 2008 and Grand Prix Vinex.
Exotic food on the Czech table
The demand of European consumers for quality Asian foodstuffs and specialties has been growing, not only in gastronomy. In particular frozen food and sea products, spices, dried produce, preserved fruit and vegetables, soft drinks, tea and exotic sauces inclusive food ingredients are promising importation commodities for the European and Czech market.
The area of Central Europe offers Asian businessmen new markets just at Salima. Due to a rising demand for quality exotic food the so-called Asian Hall will be opened for the first time at the Exhibition Centre in which firms from Thailand, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, other Asian countries as well as suppliers from some more world and European countries will present their products. Imports of food and drinks to the Czech market have been continuously growing, in particular meat and meat products, preserved fruit and vegetables, milling and starch industry products. Some important new foreign producers, in example from the meat industry the Polish company Animex belonging to the American Group Smithfield Foods – the biggest pork processing firm worldwide, are interested in attending the fair. For the first time also German company Westfleisch will come to Brno and another two most outstanding German meat processing firms – companies Tönnies and Vion – want to attend the show. Not even for instance company Marfrig Europe, European division of the parent Brazilian company, will be missing; it is the biggest producer of beef in Latin America.
An offer not only for the Horeca segment
Salima – International Food Fairs are exceptional as they address various groups of users and other professionals by their broad scope. The much looked-after clientele is represented by the Horeca segment as the importance of gastronomic markets has been continuously rising. These visitors will acquire a perfect survey at the Exhibition Centre, not only of the offer of food and drinks, but also how to improve their places of business and to increase their competitiveness. The Inteco Fair in Hall V will have a complete branch-related offer on show – starting with equipment of large kitchens and finishing by software. Moreover in the neighbouring hall G2 the three-day competition of young professionals in gastronomy Gastro Junior Brno 2008 – Nowaco Cup will be staged, attended by the best students of the branches cook, waiter and confectioner.
Not only restaurant keepers, but certainly also some more visitors have been looking forward to the Vinex Fair. Organizers have changed show concept in order to make the gustation (tasting) zone ever more attractive for both exhibitors and visitors. Outside of exhibition space a vinotheque with direct sales will be located. We can look forward, as early as now, to a choice of quality wines from the whole world and an offer of the most important home producers and smaller wine-growers. Their participation and also a special presentation of domestic production have been prepared in cooperation with the Vintner´s Fund of the Czech Republic.
Food industry of a European standard
The EU food industry must care for the nutrition of more than 460 million people by offering the broadest assortment of foodstuffs and drinks. It is a key branch of the processing industry whose priority is to increase safety and quality of food complying with the trends of a healthy nutrition. Just these topics inclusive a common EU agricultural policy will be on the program of the conference «Food Forum» having an extraordinarily quality representation. Ministers of agriculture and food industry from Germany, France, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden as well as representatives of European Commission have promised to come. The conference will be held under the patronage of EU Commissioners for agriculture, health and consumer´s protection.
The problems of agriculture and the food industry in EU will not be discussed for the first time at the Brno Exhibition Centre. Salima has become an official forum of the Czech food industry and top meetings of department representatives from the countries of Viszegrad Four and other countries have recently been held regularly. The fair will be staged under the patronage of Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Food Chamber of the Czech Republic and the State Agricultural Intervention Fund, State Veterinary Administration, State Agricultural and Food Inspection and eleven branch-related associations which belong to specialist guarantees.
Salima in figures
Salima – International Food Fairs are the largest exhibition event of their nature in the countries of Central Europe. They are held every two years and the past run was attended by 1.085 companies from 39 countries, the proportion of foreign participants being 35 percent, 14 countries had official group (joint) stands, for instance Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Thailand or Brazil.
The fairs aroused an extraordinary interest of professional public. Altogether 37.400 visitors from 60 countries attended them, among them 83 percent of registered professionals and a high number of «decision makers» inclusive dealers of business chains (Makro, Tesco, Ahold, Globus etc.). The proportion of foreign visitors increased to record 13,4 percent, which was most of all fairs staged in Brno in 2006.
All halls have been almost fully sold out
The interest of exhibitors indicates that the participation in the International Food Fairs Salima 2008 will be at least similar to their past run. Twelve weeks before fair opening all exhibition halls have been almost fully occupied and new registrations are still received. A high participation has been as usual expected in the International Milling Industry, Bakery and Confectionery Fair MBK and Inteco, the International Fair of Equipment for Retail Trade, Hotels and Catering Facilities. The International Wine Fair Vinex will welcome interesting foreign exhibitors, in example from the Republic of South Africa, Austria, Slovenia or the Hungarian Tokay area. The strongest branches of the Salima Fair will be meat processing inclusive technology and packaging industry which will take up, for the first time, the whole Hall G1.
The fairs together with their accompanying program will occupy altogether ten exhibition halls so that from 04 to 07 March the Brno Exhibition Centre will be full of colours, tastes and sweet smells.
