Czech Republic at Fine Food Melbourne 2014
25.09.2014 / 02:52 | Aktualizováno: 03.10.2014 / 02:47
(This article expired 24.09.2017 / 02:52.)
Eight Czech companies have taken part at the jubilee 30th edition of the largest food fair in the Southern hemisphere held from 15th-18th September 2014 in Melbourne. A thousand exhibitors from 45 coutries all over the world and about 25 thousand visitors had the opportunity to see high quality Czech glassware Crystalite and porcelain G. Benedikt, an original energy drink Fakeer, to taste jerky meat, a beer from Nova Paka, musli Semix and to warm up by a ten year old plum brandy (slivovitz) Rudolf Jelinek. The group of companies was complemented by a technology company J4, the Czech Exporter of the Year 2013, producing baking band ovens
The Ambassador of the Czech Republic Martin Pohl arrived from Canberra to officially open the exhibition stall on the first day. He warmly welcomed all the representatives of the Czech companies and wished them a successful fair. Dozens of trade negotiations followed with other exhibitors and industry professionals who came from near or far. Some of the Czech Republic compatriots came to visit the stall as well including Lenka Allen, President of the Czech and Slovak Festival Vodafest in Melbourne, and Lenka Hadravova who recorded interviews with participants for SBS radio.
The Czech stall was a popular stop for Australians with a European background mainly from the Balkans. Serbs, Croats, Bulgarians, they all know plum brandy (slivovitz) very well. They tasted with pleasure a new honey slivovitz (Honey Bohemia) with lower alcohol content which is new on the market. Jewish traders were impressed by Czech kosher products, a traditional five year plum brandy and musli which are exported to the USA or to Israel.
The companies´ representatives were very satisfied with the trade fair especially with the excellent organization, high attendance and positive direct feedback of the poterntial clients or business partners. The most valuable were, however, the contacts of restaurateurs, wholesalers and distributors that should bring benefits in the coming months.
The Czech Republic could be part of this event thanks to the grant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promoting the economic diplomacy and the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with The Ministry of Industry and Trade agency CzechTrade. Other official stalls from the EU included just Austria, Italy and Bulgarian association of dairy (subsidized by EU). Food producers from Greece and Cyprus had separate stalls.
High quality business presentations and open and friendly communication of the Czech participants greatly contributed to the visibility of the Czech Republic and its products abroad. After this first successful year we encourage more Czech exporters to present their products at the next edition of Fine Food 2015 in Sydney.
