RIGA FOOD 2015 – Food Fair in Riga

RIGA FOOD 2015 – Food Fair in Riga

2–5 September, the 20th international food fair “Riga Food 2015” will take place at Kipsala International Exhibition Centre, Riga, Latvia. “Riga Food 2015” is the Baltics’ biggest food fair that offers an extensive food exhibition, programme of competitions, shows and events, and this year, the fair will bring together a record number of participating companies.

 “Riga Food 2015” will present products and services offered by about 700 companies from 37 countries – Austria, Belarus, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Estonia, India, Italy, Canada, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Russia, China, Nepal, Latvia, Lithuania, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Germany, Sweden, the United States and other countries.

Companies from Spain and India will again take part in “Riga Food” after several years of break. It is a sign that, despite the difficult political and economic situation in the world, the food industry develops and interest about the Baltic food market is big enough.

“With each passing year more and more entrepreneurs highly estimate the opportunities provided by “Riga Food”! Many companies use the exhibition as a versatile marketing tool and support for their business activities. Some of them want to consolidate their position in the food market, others are looking for new market niches, and “Riga Food” provides them with all that, offering a vast exposure, quality content and an extensive programme of activities,” explained Rolands Nežborts, the project manager of “Riga Food”.

A record number of national collective stands

Visitors will have an opportunity to visit and see the national stands of 15 countries – Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Canada, Poland, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Hungary and, of course, Latvia. For the first time “Riga Food” will offer the national collective stand of India!

Latvian manufacturers to be represented in great numbers!

For the third consecutive year, Latvian companies will be represented not only in individual company stalls, but also in the Latvian national collective stands and four regional collective stands. Visitors will have an opportunity to see and enjoy the hospitality and traditional cuisine of the regions of Latvia. “Riga Food 2015” will present domestic producers, small producers, small and medium-sized enterprises – 64 from Zemgale, 22 from Latgale, 15 from Vidzeme and 14 from Kurzeme region – offering fruits and vegetables, honey and dairy products, smoked meat and other delicious products.

The national collective stand of Latvia will present 24 participants – Aloja Starkelsen, Bātas avots, Daugulis & Partneri, Dimdiņi, Enhars, Felici, Lat Eko Food, Māršava, Milda, Mosenc, Puratos Latvia, Rāmkalni Nordeco, Rēzekne Meat Factory, Kronis, Skrīveru saldumi, Vladas SP, Vecsiljāņi and six enterprises representing the Latvian Bakers Association – Dona, Lāči, N. Bomis Bakery “Lielezers”, Roga Agro, Saldus maiznieks, Golddust Company.

To support the Latvian dairy producers and present their products to foreign visitors, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia for the first time organises the collective stand of dairy producers. Read more: in Participant News, www.rigafood.lv

Events for food professionals

Apart of the vast food exhibition, “Riga Food 2015” will also offer a series of presentations, seminars and business meetings for professionals.

On 3 September, the Latvian Technological Centre and the Enterprise Europe Network Latvia in collaboration with the International Exhibition Company BT 1 will hold an international brokerage event or matchmaking. On the second day of exhibition, Grundfos Pumps Baltic will hold the seminar “Energy audit of pumps and pump systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, sewerage and industrial production”.

On 4 September, Elio De Tullio,  a founder and managing partner of  the Italian intellectual property law firm “De Tullio & Partners”, will tell about protecting intellectual property in the seminar “IPR protection in the food sector in Asian markets”, share his experience accumulated working with the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets. On the third day, existing and aspiring entrepreneurs are invited to the seminar “What you need to know about registration of dietary supplements at the Food and Veterinary Service. Guidelines for dietary supplements and news”.

Professional competitions

“Riga Food” will also bring together the best chefs, apprentice chefs, bartenders and baristas to show their professionalism, agility and compete for prizes in contests and competitions. The competition “Latvian Apprentice Chef 2015” will take place on 3 September, while the “Best Chef of Latvia” is to be determined on 4 September.

On 3 September, everyone is invited to the Riga Black Balsam cocktail competition “Riga Black Balsam Global Challenge“, Latvian final, which will begin at 12.00 in the Hall I.

Who is the best Latvian bartender mixing the most delicious non-alcoholic cocktails? Find it out on 4 September during the “Evian & Badoit Latvia Cup 2015” in mixing non-alcoholic cocktails that will bring together the most talented bartenders from all parts of Latvia.

The professional barista competition “Sanremo Opera Cup 2015” for the second consecutive year will determine the best barista in Latvia. The competition final will bring together the top 10 baristas to contend the main prize. The competition starts at 10.00 in the Hall I on 5 September.

Food producers and technologists will compete for the “Riga Food” medals in premium quality food competitions.

 

Food innovation

The “Food Innovation” booth will present novelties of the Latvian food science and inform about the support options for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. Visitors will have an opportunity to get competent specialists’ advice on new product development, certification, testing and implementation on market, get acquainted with brand new products that will first reach consumers at “Riga Food 2015 ”.

Get involved, do and taste!

Visitors will also have an opportunity to join many activities, learn and get ideas and inspiration, and taste a wide range of products, while, offering tasting sessions, participants will find out consumers’ opinion about their products and build up feedback with existing and prospective customers.

On 2 September the big stage of Hall No. 1 will host Grant’s School of Blending, unique master classes in whisky-making. Right next to the competition area will be a children’s corner, where future bartenders will have a chance to try their own hand at mixing cocktails. Programme: www.rigafood.lv

 

Take a gastronomic trip across Latvia!

For the fourth consecutive year, “Riga Food” will be introduced by the Gastronomic Festival, which this year will take place from 26 August – 6 September. Restaurants, cafes, bars, tea rooms, wine bars, patisseries, pizzerias and gourmet restaurants are welcome to offer unprecedented menus, special offers and good discounts to gourmets across Latvia. Gastronomic Festival takes place in almost 60 restaurants, cafes, bars, pastry shops, bakeries and pizzerias. Read more: www.bt1.lv/gastrofest 

“Riga Food” is held by the International Exhibition Company BT 1, a leading trade fair organizer in the Baltic States, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia, Latvian State Institute of Agrarian Economics, Latvian Technological Centre, EEN Latvia, Chefs’ Club, Latvian Bartenders Federation, Diplomatic Economic Club Latvia, foreign embassies and trade missions in Latvia. The exhibition is also supported by professional organizations, government institutions and diplomatic missions in more than 50 countries.

Follow news in our website: www.rigafood.lv;

or social media accounts: www.facebook.com/rigafood

“Riga Food 2015” Official Opening Ceremony – 2 September at 11.00.

Opening hours:

2 September         10.00–18.00 (Trade & Business)

3–4 September     10.00–19.00

5 September          10.00–17.00

Ticket prices:

2 September (Trade & Business) – EUR 9
Food professionals filling out a registration form and leaving a business card – EUR 4.50

 

3–5 September
Adults – EUR 4.50
Schoolchildren, students, senior citizens – EUR 3.50
Family ticket (5 September) – EUR 13
(2 adults + 2 children under 18 yrs)

 

Further information:

Aiga Kupre-Vociša, Public Relations Manager, BT 1

Tel: +371 26591588, e-mail: aiga.vocisa@bt1.lv

 

Inese Libere, Media Coordinator, BT 1

Tel: +371 67065011, e-mail: inese.libere@bt1.lv