FINAL REPORT OF FAIRS EXPOSHOP, GASTROPACK 2013 I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION On 27 January 2013 the exhibition centre Incheba closed its gates; for four days it had been hosting exhibitors and visitors of a series of important fair events from the field of gastronomy, namely the 20 th international gastronomy fair DANUBIUS GASTRO, the 13 th exhibition of machines and technology for trade EXPOSHOP, and the 12 th exhibition of packing materials and packaging technology GASTROPACK. The Danubius Gastro fair is a significant event in the field of gastronomy and hotel industry in both Slovakia and the Central European region. Here you can find attractive presentations of entities ranging from the world s largest suppliers to small and medium-sized enterprises. Danubius Gastro along with the concurrent exhibitions Exposhop and Gastropack give a perfect opportunity to present a complex range of products and services throughout the scale of the fair profile. This year s fair celebrated its 20th anniversary and it introduced a high number of exhibitors from the field of bakery. The fair was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic in close cooperation with the following specialized partners: the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber, the Guild of Bakers and Confectioners of the Western Slovakia Region, the Slovak Association of Cooks and Confectioners, the Slovak Bartenders Association, the Slovak Dairy Union, The Union of Slovak Grape Growers and Wine Producers, and the Slovak Association of Commerce and Tourism. On the whole, 357 exhibitors presented themselves at the fair, coming from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland. They occupied the exhibition space of total 17,250 square metres. More than 30% of direct exhibitors came from abroad and together with indirectly represented foreign enterprises the share of foreign exhibitors at the fair amounts to more than 60%, thus, proving the international character of the event. The appealing fair was visited by 72,913 people during the four days of the event. II. CEREMONIAL OPENING
Danubius Gastro was ceremonially opened by Ľubomír Jahnátek, Minister of agriculture and rural development of the Slovak Republic, along with Alexander Rozin, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of the company Incheba, a.s. (JSC); Ivan Gašparovič, President of the Slovak Republic, with Milan Semančík, President of the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber, and Pavol Konštiak, President of the Slovak Association of Commerce and Tourism, and mayors and chairmen of municipal councils, members of diplomatic corps, representatives of professional associations and other guests were present at the opening too. III. ACCOMPANYING EVENTS The side events were aimed at the professionals as well as the general public. This year s events have been the most attractive and their number has also been the highest in the history of the fair. They were taking place simultaneously at 11 places in 5 halls. In cooperation with expert guarantors, a special attention was given to the preparation of the program, and the outcomes of this collaboration were seminars, competitions, presentations and sale shows. More than 700 organisers and competitors took part in them actively. As an example of the most attractive side events we might mention the 14 th year of the National Presentation of Culinary and Confectionary Skills Poetry in Gastronomy, where hotels, restaurants and confectioneries, professional and vocational schools from the whole of Slovakia presented their competition exhibits. Many cooks competed in prestigious contests Danubius Gastro Cup and Gastro Junior. The seventh bakers competition for the Best Roll of Bratislava was complemented by competitions for the Best Bread Baked in an
Industrial Bakery, the Best Bread Baked in a Traditional Bakery, the Most Interesting New Bakery and Confectionery Product from Foodstuff Suppliers, and the Tastiest Bread according to the Public. This was the first time the visitors could had tasted and grade products coming from more than 50 Slovak bakeries. The eleventh year of the competition ST. NICOLAUS CUP and the fifth year of ST. NICOLAUS FREE STYLE were considered very interesting and a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. During the competition Danubius Gastro Carving Cup 2013, the visitors could admire works of art carved of fruit and vegetables. An extraordinary attractive show was held by the company Zeleninári (Greengrocers) in the D1 hall, including appealing parades, tasting the products and unusual performances of various artists and groups. This event was organised by the company Tomáš Kubinec Zeleninári. The best exhibits and novelties presented at the fair were awarded the DANUBIUS GASTRO 2013 prize. Štefan Adam, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, handed over the prize to eleven exhibits of the highest quality. Other nine products that met the competition criteria were awarded certificates right at the display spots by the Chairman of the commission, Ing. Ján Štulc. IV. COMPETITION RESULTS DANUBIUS GASTRO 2013 PRIZE The exhibited products were evaluated by an expert commission consisting of professionals from the field of gastronomy, food industry and commerce, and it was chaired by Ing. Ján Štulc. In 2013 there were 47 exhibits registered in the competition for the best exhibits of international exhibitions that are Danubius Gastro, Exposhop and Gastropack. The DANUBIUS GASTRO 2013 Prize was awarded to the following competitors: 1. Julius Meinl Coffee Intr. a. s., Bratislava a collection of exclusive tea blends from the best tea gardens from all over the world - JULIUS MEINL s Big Bag Organic Tea Blends; highly evaluated for: all ingredients used are organic; the teabags are made of Soilon which is absolutely biodegradable and compostable; teabags are of the big-bag type and packed separately so that aroma can be perfectly preserved. 2. Ing. Vojtech Gottschall Bageta, Pezinok fine bakery product made from leavened dough Vianočná štóla (Christmas Stollen) awarded for a fine, well-balanced flavour of this seasonal bakery product. 3. KON - RAD spol. s r. o. Bratislava Andeluna Pasionado Grand Reserve, 2004 vintage, cuvée Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignan, Merlot a Malbec, a dry red wine
from Argentina; awarded for its velvety flavour with a natural nobility of wine species that are typical for the country of origin. 4. APIMED - Ing. Peter Kudláč, Dolná Krupá Old Slavonic Dark Mead, ABV 13.5%, awarded for the original recipe of mead made from honeydew honey, having an extraordinary flavour. 5. Fruit Distillery Cooperation s. r. o., Marcelová exotic edition of fruit spirits made from tropical fruit, ABV 42.3%, types Mandarin orange, Orange and Banana awarded for a genuine fruit spirit that was made using the producer s own and original recipe; for that it is the only one of its kind having harmony of a flavour and aroma typical for the tropical fruits, made by a Slovak producer. 6. Bryndziareň a syráreň, s. r. o. Zvolenská Slatina a collection of four products made of sheep milk - 100% Sheep Bryndza Slatina, Bryndza Slatina, unsmoked sheep cheese Kashkaval and Oštiepok - steamed, full-fat cheese made of sheep milk; awarded for traditional: Slovak products made of sheep milk with a unique flavour. 7. Syráreň Havran, a. s., Senica Havran - cheese from the Záhorie Region polooštiepok, that is, a smoked, half-fat, non-ripening cheese; awarded for: product made of traditional ingredients without using chemical preservatives, stabilizers, thickeners and milk constituents; the cheese is mostly hand made by producers employees and it is of a significant cheese-like aroma, flavour and its colour is natural. 8. Víno Nitra, spol. s r. o. Nitra Tramín červený (red Traminer) with attribute Výber z hrozna (Grapes Selection), dry white wine, 2011 vintage; awarded for its well-balanced flavour with spicy tones that are typical for Traminer types. 9. OLD HEROLD s. r. o., Trenčín Považský repák, sugar-beet liquor of 52% ABV; awarded for: unique product with a special and extraordinary flavour and aroma. 10. KARLOFF s. r. o., Kežmarok TOCAINE, fortified wine 33%; awarded for: a fortified wine made exclusively from grapes, and for the own research and development of the company 11. JTF Partnership s. r. o. Lednické Rovne RONA drinking glassware, namely its collection Le Vin that consists of 7 glasses of different shapes; awarded for the professional processed glass, which is of high quality and has an aesthetically pleasing appearance, which emphasizes the individual nature of various wine types. Danubius Gastro 2013 certificates were awarded to the following competitors: 1. Humenská mliekareň a. s., Humenné a collection of thermized quark-based desserts KUBKO and MAŤKO, and thermized quark-creme product DODKO; awarded for its delicious flavour. 2. GAS Familia, spol. s r. o. Stará Ľubovňa FAMILIA Premium Vodka 38% - awarded for a fine flavour and clear vodka aroma, and its simple, eye-catching design. 3. SANVIN s. r. o. Bratislava Alibernet Barrique with attribute Neskorý zber (Late Harvest), vintage 2011, awarded for its well-harmonised, pleasant flavour. 4. FOOD FARM s. r. o. Hlohovec wine Frankovka modrá (Lemberger wine), quality wine with attribute Neskorý zber (Late Harvest), dry red, vintage 2011; awarded for good flavour properties typical for the relevant wine-producing region.
5. AGRO MOVINO spol. s r. o. Veľký Krtíš the Devín wine, quality wine with attribute hrozienkový výber (Raisin Selection), semi-sweet white, vintage 2011; awarded for the harmony of flavour and aroma. 6. Jaroslav Ostrožovič J & J Ostrožovič, Veľká Tŕňa a collection of 4 bottles of Tokaj wine in a wine gift box; awarded for the innovative packing and irreplaceable flavour and aroma of the Tokaj wine. 7. KON - RAD spol. s r. o. Bratislava Laurent champagne Perrier cuvee brut Rosé 0.75 l; awarded for: typical sparkling wine from the Champagne area, stored in a bottle of elegant shapes, offering balance of intensity and delicious flavour. 8. OLD HEROLD s. r. o., Trenčín Vodka LAUGARICIO 179, 40% ABV; awarded for: top-quality vodka and modern design. 9. Bryndziareň a syráreň, s. r. o. Zvolenská Slatina the Merino cheese, semi-hard, ripening, full-fat sheep cheese; awarded for its significant taste of sheep milk and for its fine, smooth consistency. V. PROMOTION Since the fair originated, the concept of promotion of the fair by an advertising campaign has been of high importance to us so that not only the professionals but also the general public can get the information on DANUBIUS GASTRO. We started promoting the event by means of big boards, billboards and citylight panels a couple of weeks before the fair began. Information on the fair was broadcast via these radio stations: Jemné melódie, Fun rádio and Expres. The adverts were also placed in print media; we chose the most read daily - Nový Čas, then Šport and Új Szó. An invitation to the event was broadcast in the TA3 TV channel; it was uttered in an interview during the program Hosť v štúdiu (Guest in the Studio). Information about the fair was broadcast during main news programmes of the following television channels: JOJ, Markíza, STV1 and TA3. News reports were broadcast live and from the spot from the displays of exhibitors during the Teleráno TV show of the Markíza channel. The dailies Nový čas, Plus 1 deň, Šport, Pravda and Hospodárske noviny informed about the news at the fair concurrently. Regarding electronic media, we ordered a banner campaign that was delivered by the website Zoznam.sk. Several articles promoting the fair were published on these websites: topky.sk, teraz.sk, pluska.sk, cas.sk and pravda.sk.
As for the specialized professional media, we collaborated with the print media: Hotelier, Gastro, EPICURE and Vitalita. In order to promote the fair, billboards, citylight panels, advertising stands and posters were placed at the facilities and parking lots of METRO megastores. 416 journalists were accredited at the press centre. VI. MARKET POSITION Thanks to its attributes and features, the Danubius Gastro fair has managed to strengthen its dominant position in the field of gastronomy, hotel and food industry in Slovakia this year and it is becoming one of the most significant events in the region of Central Europe. VII. EVALUATION OF THE FAIR The fair was very well received by both its exhibitors and visitors. In spite of a challenging economic situation, we have managed to increase the parameters of the fair by almost 20%. We are really pleased to say that Danubius Gastro along with the ITF Slovakiatour fair and the concurrent exhibitions belong to the most attractive exhibition events in Slovakia. VIII. INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEXT YEAR S FAIR The organizers are already looking forward to the next year s fair, which is held from 30 January to 2 February 2014. By rescheduling the happening date we met the exhibitors requests which had been coming for many years; by doing this, we made sure that our dates won t overlap with those of the fairs of European importance -
Berlin International Green Week and SIGEP Rimini. We believe that the upcoming fair is going to be even better than the last one and that there will be more exhibitors participating, belonging to various professional fields and from both Slovakia and abroad. Many exhibitors have made use of the exhibition space reservation for 2014 right at this year s fair and by pre-ordering the exhibition place they have been granted a right to choose an exhibition area for a discounted price. Don't wait any longer and take the advantage we are offering you - order your exhibition space at DANUBIUS GASTRO EXPOSHOP GASTROPACK 2014 in advance and right away! I am looking forward to our cooperation. Ing. Ivan Veselý Fair Event Manager Tel: +421 2 6727 2218 Fax: +421 2 6224 7101 Email: gastro@incheba.sk www.incheba.sk