Post Show Report. Prodexpo 2017

09 / 03 / 2017

The 24th International Exhibition for Food, Beverages and Food Raw Materials is the largest food event in Russia and Eastern Europe, which showcases a wide range of foodstuffs and drinks from around the globe.

Dates: 6-10 February 2017

Venue: Expocentre Fairgrounds

Organized by Expocentre AO

Supported by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture

Auspices of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Logos: UFI, RUEF

Exhibition area: ab. 100,000 sq m

Exhibitors: 2,188 companies

Russian exhibitors: 1,543

Unique visitors: 61,000

Countries: 58

International pavilions: 29 (Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Moldova, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of South Africa, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, the UAE, Uruguay, Uzbekistan)

Newcomers to Prodexpo 2017: Bolivia and Ecuador

Russian group stands: 11

Types of products on display: alcoholic drinks, vegetable oils, canned food, confectionery and bakery, meat and meat products, fish and seafood, dairy products and cheese, gourmet foods and delicatessen, etc.

This year the number of participants from the former Soviet republics has increased by more than 20% (189 companies) and the exhibition space by 14.6%. Among the CIS countries the largest number of companies, that is 86, came from Belarus. 44 Armenian and 12 Moldovan companies showcased their products at Prodexpo. Companies from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan took an active part in the trade show and the Republic of Uzbekistan arranged its national pavilion.

Opening Ceremony Guests

Prodexpo 2017 has clearly demonstrated the interest of foreign companies in the Russian market. The participants in the opening ceremony were numerous foreign delegations and guests, among them Minister of Agriculture of Hungary Mr. Sandor Fazekas, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay Mr. Tabare Aguerre, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply of Brazil Mr. Eumar Novacki, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from Indonesia, Lebanon, Peru, Portugal, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan as well as representatives of Chile and Armenia.

The participants in the opening ceremony were welcomed by Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vladimir Vasilyev, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Evgeny Gromyko, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergey Katyrin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues Vladimir Kashin, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation Committee for Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management Sergey Lisovsky, General Director of Expocentre Sergey Bednov, representatives of industry associations and other public officials.

Prodexpo Salons

Each of 28 Prodexpo salons presented a separate sector of the food industry

  • The largest salon of Prodexpo 2017 – Confectionery  Snacks, Nuts, Dried Fruit and Bakery rose by 18% compared to 2016. Its participants were 344 companies.
  • The geography of the Alcoholic Drinks Salon became wider. The number of participants increased by 18.2% to amount to 337. The showcase has been enlarged with alcoholic drinks from Bulgaria, China, Greece, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Serbia, and Uruguay.
  • The participants in the third largest Milk and Dairy Products and Cheese Salon were 161 companies that is by 15.8% more than in 2016.
  • The Meat and Meat Products, Cooked Meats, Poultry and Eggs Salon featured products of 116 companies among them major agribusiness, meat processing plants and poultry plants.
  • The Canned Food, Sauces and Ketchups Salon has enlarged compared to the previous year. It brought together 158 participants from 23 countries. The number of exhibitors increased by 22.5%
  • The Groceries, Cereals, Pasta, Spices and Kitchen Herbs Salon has greatly expanded its product range and increased by 28%. The exhibitors were 151 companies from 16 countries.
  • The products of the Tea and Coffee Salon were showcased by 150 companies from Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. The salon rose by 15.3%. 
  • At the Juices, Mineral Water and Soft Drinks Salon manufacturers and distributors showed products made in Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, and South Korea.
  • The premiere Halal Salon aroused great interest among representatives of food industry and market players. The salon was organized by the International Center for Halal Standardization and Certification of the Russian Council of Muftis. The participants were 22 manufacturers of halal products.
  • For the fourth time the international EcoBioSalon has been a unique platform for demonstration and discussion. This year the number of participants has doubled: 79 suppliers of healthy and eco-friendly products from Armenia, Bolivia, France, Greece, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.
  • The Prodexpopack Salon of packaging solutions for the food industry increased by 23% thanks to new participants engaged in the sector of packaging manufacture and finished packages.

Associated Events

Prodexpo 2017 was accompanied by major international industry forums, conferences, round tables and professional competitions. The participants in the associated events were key players of the food market, top managers of agribusiness, corporations, big chains, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, the Russian State Duma, and foreign delegations.

The Expocentre for Counterfeit-Free Exhibitions project aimed at minimizing counterfeit products showcased at exhibitions through providing consultations regarding intellectual property was carried out at the trade show.

Participant Feedback

“For a long time Russia has been a bulk consumer of Indian tea. We’ve had lasting business relationships between our countries and we plan to develop them.  Times change, many new brands have appeared and we would like to showcase them at this exhibition.

We know Prodexpo and we like its management level very much. A lot of our partners, both Russian and Indian, wanted to attend this show and we provided them with the opportunity. We have great expectations about the Russian market and hope to be a success there. We’ve already managed to agree on big contracts. I believe the trade show will be effective for us and we’ll certainly participate in Prodexpo in the future.”

Soundappan Soundararajan, Director for Tea Industry Development at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)

“We work at a group stand and visitors come here to see what we have brought to Russia. We, for example, show ginseng and ways of its application. There is soy sauce next to it. Everybody knows it. Here are also different snacks and Korean sweets.

Today is the second day of Prodexpo but we managed to network with big chains interested in our products and even started negotiating on supplies. I am sure we’ll come back next year.”

Elzara Avidullayeva, Manager of representative office of NEMUM (Korea)

“It’s the fourth time we have participated in Prodexpo. The aim of our participation is to increase export of Armenian products to Russia. And Prodexpo is the key event to accomplish these goals. Our stand includes 23 Armenian companies showcasing a great variety of food and drinks. Apart from the national pavilion, Armenian major companies also take part in the trade show.

The Prodexpo organizers do their job very well. We’ve collaborated for years and become close friends. Many issues are settled thanks to their support and assistance. We are sure to return next year.”

Lusine Balayan, Project Manager of Development Foundation of Armenia

 

Prodexpo in social networks (in Russian only)

  

 

Expocentre Press Service