March 5, 2010 Press Center BVV -This year’s International Fairs SALIMA, MBK, INTECO, VINEX and EMBAX revealed the future trends of the food industry and how the development in this perspective and important branch will continue in the Czech Republic. This year for the first time the food fairs were extended of another project – the 26th International Trade Fair of Packaging, Printing and Marketing Communication EMBAX which well complements the other projects. 70 % of its production goes namely to the food industry. The complex of five fairs has thus covered the whole food production and sales – technologies for processing foodstuffs and drinks, final products, packaging, marking and control incl. distribution to shops and gastronomy.
On 18 500 m2 the offer of 929 exhibiting firms from 26 countries was presented, the proportion of foreign exhibitors amounting to 36 %. The stands at the Brno Exhibition Centre were viewed by more than 32 000 visitors from 34 countries. The proportion of foreign visitors exceeded 10 %.*

EMBAX 2010; hall full of packages and packaging technologies
Jointly with the fairs aimed at food industry and gastronomy for the first time the 26th International Trade Fair of Packaging, Printing and Marketing Communication EMBAX was staged. The joint date was required by the exhibitors and the premiere was successful: it brought new clientele to the packaging firms’ stands and offered new business opportunities.
The center of packages and packaging technologies was the modern Hall F which was fully occupied. To interesting novelties belonged as follows: marking technologies and print of a broad spectrum of materials, sterilizers and robotic palletizers of a new generation, packaging machines of a higher production and lower operation cost, efficient taping technology, packaging materials of better utility properties and innovated machines for their production and processing. Not even modern technologies for production control and automation or identification systems in logistics were missing.

Model packaging line
Great attention was aroused by the project Packaging line which put, several times a day, a model packaging line into operation. The unique character of the premiere project Packaging line consisted in its interactivity: the whole course of packaging candies from pouring into a bag via a print, checks and palletization up to a distribution to the client was live moderated several times a day and visitors could discuss with the professionals, directly in the place, about everything they were interested in. The complete packaging workflow was implemented by eight renowned companies which presented their most modern technology. A part of the project were also specialist seminars devoted to modern methods of data collection by means of RFID technology, new printers and food safety or a progressive industrial marking.



Innovated package helps business success
The agency CzechTrade staged an extraordinarily successful seminar “Structural design and branding – major “building stone” of package innovations”, which acquainted with the principles of packaging and gave interesting examples from the practice. It also inspired the producers who want to attract customers by a unique package and to create an icon of their brand. The leading Czech package designer Jan Činčera belonged to the speakers; he presented a number of interesting packages, often making use of new materials and technological possibilities. Director of the company Cocoon group Vedrana Ajdin spoke about the importance of a structural design for building a brand. The presentation of the Dutch designer Christien van Yzendoorn, founder of the Cocoon Brand Advice & Design Solutions, brought a number of successful package innovations.

SALIMA had a high foreign participation
The quatrefoil of international food fairs in Brno has always belonged to the fairs of the highest foreign participation and not even this time it was an exception. In halls altogether fifteen countries presented themselves through official stands (Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Croatia, Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Singapore, Slovakia, Serbia, Sri Lanka and Thailand). In spite of a growing interest by overseas countries, the most numerous participation was noted by the neighbouring countries. The partner country of this year’s run was Slovakia. The participation of Austrian food-industry firms was extraordinarily high (22 firms). Their products have been well sold in our country as before the beginning of the economic crisis. “Salima is the leading food fair not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the entire area of CENTROPA - Slovakia, Hungary and Austria and also South Poland. For this reason our participation is of great importance to us,” stated Christopher Plank, commercial attaché of the Austrian Embassy in Prague.

Emphasis placed on regional specialties and food quality
The fair emphasized regional food and specialties and was aimed at the assortment and trends of a modern gastronomy. In particular regional food is, from the point of view of freshness and taste, an excellent alternative to a standard production, also supported by the project Czech Specials. It is aimed at renewing the prestige of the Czech gastronomy. “The Czech Republic attracts great attention to food safety. For this reason our products are markedly different from the others, which is a big advantage among the competitors on world markets,” claimed Minister of Agriculture Jakub Šebesta. It was also confirmed by the President of the Food Chamber CZ Miroslav Toman. He informed that the Association of Regions CZ signed a memorandum on a cooperation with the Agricultural Food Chamber. The first result is a support of important regional products and a cooperation in the project Regio Klasa whose aim is to promote healthy and harmless food of home production.
New brands KLASA were presented, at the fair, to the representatives of twelve production firms by Minister of Agriculture Jakub Šebesta. Two of them were granted the award for the first time. Logo Klasa declares a fulfilment of demanding quality criteria and altogether 1323 products by 227 producers can boast of it. This brand of quality helps the customer during his orientation that a safe and quality product is involved. Similar brands also appear in other EU countries and their importance has been continuously growing. Altogether 81 % of producers consider the campaign of the brand KLASA successful and state that it increases the sales of the product of 20-30 %.

FOOD FORUM on globalization in the food industry and agriculture
A number of significant accompanying events have been staged, incl. the International Conference FOOD FORUM. Its major topic was globalization of the food industry and agriculture. Common agricultural policy after 2013 was discussed which should be, at that time, similar to all EU countries. A model of direct payments is involved. It should be simple, sufficiently flexible and in particular well explainable to the public. However, present trends must be retained. The Forum was also attended by ministers of agriculture from Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia and by representatives of embassies of Spain, France, Netherlands as well as by other important guests.
Ministry of Agriculture CZ staged a Czech National Day on which Minister Šebesta appreciated the work of agriculturists and food-industry workers who secure enough quality and safe food.

Conference on health harmlessness in production and in processing food of animal origin
Enormous changes which have taken place and still take place in international trade in food of animal origin require continuous reactions and changes in legislation and supervising systems. These topics were solved at the 10th Conference on health harmlessness in production and in processing food of animal origin The conference was held by the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceuticals Brno and the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Professionals spoke about a harmonization of national legislation with the EU Acts, which is a necessary demand of the EU unified market . It is also of importance to create equal conditions for producers, distributors and businessmen. This aspect is the most important in all EU countries as animal products belong to the most risky from the point of view of diseases.

Golden Salima
Prestigious awards Golden Salima, announced by BVV Trade Fairs Brno, were presented to the representatives of winning firms by Minister of Agriculture Jakub Šebesta and Manager of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection Martin Klanica who was also Chairman of the Jury of Assessment. Minister said: if EU wants to be competitive with third countries, it must produce quality and safe food of a high nutrition value. For the Golden Salima Competition altogether 55 exhibits were entered, of which the Jury of Assessment granted eight awards. Twelve exhibits competed in engineering section, two of them were awarded Golden Salima, eleven exhibits obtained the Trendy prize.

Competitions of young cooks, confectioners and bakers
Other important events included the Competition of young Cooks, Confectioners and Waiters Gastro Junior Nowaco Cup 2010. Its 16th run was attended by 43 vocational schools from the Czech Republic, two from Slovakia and one from Poland. Competitors presented all works in front of spectators, winners will go through to the competition Czech hands which will be held in June.
An attraction for the public were skill competitions for the titles Czech baker junior and For the most attractive product of the year 2010 which took place at the Baker’s center in Hall P. Also a time record in twisting twists was broken. It was of interest that a sixteen-year old junior won by defeating also professional bakers. It revealed that the fair also supported this craft, which copes with a lack of workers at present.
In Hall P the Championship of the Czech Republic in coffee preparation Barista of the year 2010 took place. Its winner will go through to the June World Barista Championship in London. In Brno also the winner of Latte art Zdeněk Smrčka and the winner of the competition in preparation coffee with alcohol Coffee in Good Spirits Jiří Richter presented themselves. Spectators also followed a „master“ preparation of Irish coffee, cappuccino and other drinks. Jury members were professionals from the SCAE head office in London and from other European countries.
Visitors were greatly attracted by preparations of various delicacies in all halls. For instance on a group stand of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants CZ and the Union of Trade and Tourism CZ, lots of visitors tasted the specialties of the Czech „cuisine“, prepared by renowned Brno chefs. The event was focused on renewing the prestige of gastronomy and to indicate the restaurants which prepare quality national or regional meals.


Grand Prix Vinex went for the first time to organic wine
The title Champion Grand Prix Vinex went for the first time to organic wine by Vinselekt Michlovský. The firm was granted five medals in three categories and was also presented the award of the Agricultural Chamber CZ for the best wine collection. The International Competition Grand Prix Vinex for which record 373 samples were entered, was staged by the Union of Vintners CZ in cooperation with BVV Trade Fairs Brno.
At the fair Vinex a quality show of wines and other drinks and distilled liquors was held. In addition to domestic firms which presented the assortment of Moravian wines (market leaders Bohemia Sekt, Znovín Znojmo, Templar Cellars) and Bohemian wines also producers from France, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Slovenia were represented together with wine producers from France, Argentine and Chile. Busy was also in the gustation zone, where the visitors could choose of more than 250 samples and also buy them.

* The above information is preliminary only. The definitive final report will be published by BVV Trade Fairs Brno after all statistical data have been audited. Statistical data given are based on the principles laid down by UFI (Union des Foires Internationales).