More than 22,800 visitors attended the Bulgarian exhibition for the food industry and the horeca sector
The most prestigious professional event for the meat sector in Bulgaria is the exhibition MEATMANIA. The 24th edition of the Forum, featuring numerous opportunities for business development, was held from 8 to 11 November at Inter Expo Center. It was attended by Bulgarian and foreign companies – producers, importers and retailers of meat and meat products.
The visitors at MEATMANIA have identified machines and equipment, innovative technologies, additives, packaging and packaging machines, specialized transport vehicles, industrial floor and wall coverings, consumables and everything else needed for meat industry and trading.
MEATMANIA, which is organized by the Association of Meat Processors in Bulgaria in partnership with Inter Expo Center, was held in parallel with the exhibitions THE WORLD OF MILK, BULPEK, SALON DE VIN, INTERFOOD & DRINK and SIHRE. There are more than 22,800 visitors at the exhibitions, which is said to be the biggest business event of the year in Sofia. In the six exhibition halls, with a total area of 16 000 square meters, all sectors of the food industry and the horeca sector came to meet in one place.
Proving itself once again as the most successful platform for doing business in the sector, the exhibitions have expanded their scale. Products and innovations were presented by over 450 companies, 80 of which were foreign participants. More than 150 companies joined the event for the first time, a forum which annually welcomes manufacturers, distributors and retailers representing food, beverages, machinery, technology, packaging, hotel and restaurant equipment, furniture … and much more.
For yet another consecutive year, Inter Expo Center and the branch organizations – the Association of Meat Processors in Bulgaria, the Association of Milk Processors in Bulgaria, the National Branch Union of Bakers and Confectioners, the National Vine and Wine Chamber, the Union of Processors of Fruits and Vegetables, the Bulgarian Organic Association Products and the National Association Hotel Restaurant Cafeteria. Thanks to their joint efforts, there were recruited companies from Bulgaria, Argentina, Belgium, Great Britain, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Iran and South Africa. Traditional national products were presented by the embassies of Argentina, UK, South Africa and Poland.
Modern machinery and robotic technologies
During MEATMANIA, there were presented the most advanced machines and technologies for the meat processing sector. These include meat grinding systems, drying chambers drying raw-cured products. There were numerous high-tech proposals for food packaging and branding, suitable for all food products, for packing meat and meat products, sausages, meat slices, semi-finished products, fish and marine products, canned foods, pasta, fruits and vegetables. The machines can be integrated in automatic production or packaging lines.
The professional chefs have found professional kitchen equipment. Visitors’ attention was also attracted by the most up-to-date portable gas analyzers on the market, forklifts, electric trucks and warehouses, storage and transportation boxes for finished products, and high-tech hand-washing and disinfection systems.
The visitors have found automatic labeling, verification and product sorting systems. During MEATMANIA everyone could review in detail the industrial barcode printers featuring innovative technologies and useful solutions. The exhibition was a kind of a platform for presenting the services of companies providing in thermal printing, incorporation of optical elements for protection, as well as unique possibilities for combining packaging solutions with holographic products for security and authenticity of the final product.
Favorite foods and flavours
Keeping to the traditions from the previous editions, MEATMANIA offers visitors favorite foods, flavours and delicacies from Bulgaria and abroad. The guests have found farmers’ cured beef meet, raw-dried products and delicacies, including the local tastes of Lukanka, Babek sausage and Veselyashka Broenitsa.
There were numerous proposals made in Bulgaria, with ingredients such as traditional meat products, distinguished by specific recipes, method of preparation and consistency.
More and more prizes and contests
Undoubtedly, each year the accompanying program becomes more and more populated. During the company demonstrations, the companies presented their products and services they offer and their possible ways of implementation of the road to Industry 4.0.
The high quality products were awarded during the annual Gold Medal and Diploma Contest. A total of 55 products received prestigious awards. Among the winners there were companies specializing in the production of meat products, bakery and chocolate products, Bulgarian cheeses and dairy products, canned foods and other foods, wines and beverages. The Ninth National Competition for the Best Packaging “Prize Pack – 2017” was held during the event. Among the awarded products there were innovative packaging for meat and fish products, luxury packaging boxes, innovative bottle designs and others.
A delightful scent of coffee and a tough competition accompanied the second Bulgarian barista championship. The winner Veselin Panov won the title “Bulgarian Barista Champion for 2017” as well as the right to represent our country at the World Finals in Italy in 2018. Positive emotions and a great inspiration for the participants and viewers were offered at the International Pizza Championship this year, held for the first time in the days of the exhibitions. Showing attention to the youngest visitors, the tasting under the motto “Grow up healthy and strong ” presented in an interactive and entertaining way the benefits of healthy eating.
The second edition of the GastronomiX Culinary Forum took place within the framework of the SIHRE, with a special focus on the first WiFo Food and Wine Event. The national qualification Bocuse d’Or Bulgaria 2017 also selected this year’s winner. Chef Nikola Nikolov will present Bulgaria at the European Qualifications in Turin and, if successful, he will go to the Grand Final in Lyon.
MEATMANIA, THE WORLD OF MILK, BULPEK, SALON DE VIN, INTERFOOD & DRINK and SIHRE were a proof of the maxim that joining efforts leads to success. The growth in the number of visitors, the occupied space and the participating companies proved the positive trends and opportunities for the development of the sector.