RUSSIA WARMS TO INGREDIENTS SHOW

Ingredients Russia 1999 pulled in more exhibitors and visitors than last year, with food manufacturers, brewers, scientists and governing bodies to the Olimpsky exhibition centre. ITE Group Plc organised the event and reported that 30,000 visitors attended over the four day duration. It built on the success of the 1998 event with visitor participation increasing threefold and exhibition space rising by nearly 50 percent. Russia is gradually been recognised by ingredient companies as a potentially huge market for their products. Although local food producers exist, most lack technology and expertise to produce long shelf life processed food stuffs. Many are keen to incorporate ingredients like additives, flavourings, vitamins and preservatives to improve taste, yield and longevity of domestic food and drink products.

With 70 per cent of food ingredients been imported, it was critical that ingredient companies were in hand. As well as letting local food manufacturers know what products are available it was a good opportunity to offer technical advice and guidance on usage first hand.

Over 150 international and Russian ingredient companies exhibited at the show. The profile of ingredient exhibitors at the show illustrated the recovery of the Russian foodstuffs market with 40 per cent of the ingredient exhibitors coming from the Russian Federation. This was a huge increase from the first event where only 15 per cent were local producers. It is expected that next year there will be 50/50 spilt between International and Russian companies exhibiting.

The event's profile was enhances by the presence of several prestigious supporters. Representatives from the Russian Ministry of agriculture & food, Ministry of Economy and the Russian Meat Union were joined by visitors from the Moscow state government. Chairman of the Meat Union, Mr Mikonyan felt the " international forum " that the event provided was hugely important for companies in the Russian food market.

Hoffman La Roche was on hand as official sponsor of the show with further support from international food research organisation Leatherhead Food RA and official publication Food Ingredients & Analysis International.

An International Gala dinner held on the first night of the show saw presentations to reward companies at the show for their effort. Many of the international companies had brought their recognised stands across to Russia, bringing worldwide image and branding to the Russian market. Eridania Beghin Say picked up the award for best international stand at the show while Vremia's was voted best by a Russian exhibitor. Food Ingredients & Analysis's event preview was warmly received and prompted the judges to name FIA the official publication.

One of the main aims of the show was to develop a rapport between International ingredient companies and local food manufacturers looking to develop their own industry. Visitors were fascinated by new ideas and ready to be taught about techniques and ingredient formulation by established experts like Kerry Ingredients which was showing many of its semi - finished food products.

One addition to this year's itinerary was the three-day conference. It proved very popular, providing a forum for issues and discussion of food technologies in nutrition, confection and meat. Over 120 delegates attended the nutrition seminar jointly hosted by Hoffman La Roche, the Moscow Institute of Nutrition and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Colloides Naturels International, Rhodia and Aarhus Olie were also on hand to give their expertise at other seminars.

Exhibitors at the show reported brisk business, with new contracts and leads emerging from discussions and dialogue. Kerry Foods were one company who were pleased with what they had achieved. "We've used Ingredients Russia to arrange meetings with existing and new contacts in the region", said Marketing Director, Andy Long. "Its given us a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the full scope of our ingredients portfolio to our clients".

The large number of flavour companies exhibiting were well served with huge interest from visitors. A steady stream of attendees on the stands of Wild, Robertet and Dohler reflected the trend. Interest in health ingredients was buoyant while Roche and Bjorge Biomarin were pleased with the number of enquiries from Russian visitors at their stands. Loders Croklaan's stand was also popular, showing that interest in popular established ingredients was as keen as for the newer ones. The show was happy marriage between Russian visitors keen to ask questions and international exhibitors looking to set up distribution deals in a new market. Everybody was after information and information and nowhere was this more evident than on the Food Ingredients & Analysis and its sister publication Ingredients, Health and Nutrition were snapped up over four days.

By the end of the show, exhibitors were already re-booking for next year's event. Danisco-Cultor, a sub exhibitor this year indicated that it will have a stand next year. ITE have so far sold 1200 square metres of exhibition space (out of 2000 square metres) and expect a sell-out.

Ingredients Russia 2000 will run from 28^th November until 1^st December at the Olimpsky complex. If you are planning on going, it might be best to wrap up warm.

Source: Food Ingredients & Analysis January/February Issue
( Turret Rai)