How the food market has changed

As part of the Prodexpo 2023 conference programme, a Plenary Session on Key Changes in the Russian Domestic Market. Market Analysis, Development Trends, Support Measures for Russian Manufacturers took place. The event was organised by Roskachestvo and EXPOCENTRE AO with the support of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Russian Export Centre, as well as key industry associations. 

The moderator of the event, Maxim Protasov, the head of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation Russian Quality System, opened the session by saying that a year ago at the previous plenary session at Prodexpo 2022, few had imagined the complex challenges each of us would face.

“Today these are logistical problems, problems with the supply of agricultural equipment, packaging, raw materials, technology," Maxim Protasov said. “The country's economy has shrunk by 3%. Consumer demand has fallen by about 3.5%. Nevertheless, the agricultural sector added more than 10% in comparable prices. Exports increased. At the same time, the destinations and countries to which we send agricultural processing products have changed dramatically".

Sergey Selivanov, First Deputy Director General of EXPOCENTRE AO, welcomed the attendees and thanked Roskachestvo for organising the main events of the exhibition conference programme.

Maxim Protasov and Sergey Selivanov solemnly presented representatives of a number of food industry enterprises with the Russian Quality Mark, awarded to the best Russian products.

Alexey Solodov, Vice President of the Russian Export Centre, stressed that the role of exports in the development of the economy is increasing sharply in the new economic reality.

"Historically, western markets accounted for half of our exports," Alexey Solodov continued. “Now they are largely blocked. Exporters are forced to explore new markets where relationships have already been established and our suppliers have to start from scratch in the face of fierce competition. We have therefore simplified the provision of a range of support measures. We have provided a deferral of a number of key indicators that companies must meet. And we have tried to digitise as much as possible the support measures we have in place”.

Andrey Volkov, Chairman of the Union of Plant-Based Producers, spoke about plans for the development of the plant-based products segment on the Russian market. He spoke about the plans for the development of this segment in 2023, as well as emphasised the importance of singling out plant-based products into a separate category with a specific regulatory framework.

2023 is the year of big plans to implement Russia's economic development objectives in the new realities. How can we ramp up capacity, create new production lines and address the availability of raw materials and the necessary equipment within a tight timeframe? Where to find new logistics corridors and sources of credit support? These and many other questions are now being asked by the food industry.

Representatives of the industry ministries, the Russian Export Centre and leaders of major industry associations - Rusprodsoyuz, the National Meat Association and the Association of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Russia - sought answers to them at the plenary session: 

Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO