Hungarian food exports open up to the Baltics

During the four-day program, more than 15 Hungarian food industry companies presented themselves in Lithuania and Latvia, including well-known brands and innovative SMEs that represent both traditional Hungarian flavors and modern, health-conscious product development. Hungarian exhibitors brought a wide range of products: the offer included wines, champagnes, brandies, snacks, biscuits, gluten- and lactose-free bakery products, smoked meats, rice products, as well as organic foods and plant-based innovations.

Two-day business forum in Vilnius and Riga

The program started on November 10 in Vilnius, where market knowledge presentations and visits to local retail chains helped Hungarian companies get to know the Baltic market.
At the B2B event on November 11, Hungarian companies had the opportunity to meet Lithuanian buyers. The delegation then traveled to Riga, where participants could listen to market knowledge presentations on similar topics, and the next day, Hungarian companies could introduce themselves to buyers from Latvia and the surrounding area.

The Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – have become increasingly important target markets for Hungarian food exports in recent years. After the decline following the change of regime, accession to the European Union brought new momentum: trade turnover has continuously increased over the past ten years. Despite their small size and price-sensitive nature, the Baltic markets offer numerous market niches where Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises can be competitive. Some areas offer particularly good opportunities. These include gourmet and premium products, as a solvent segment has emerged among Baltic consumers looking for special, high-quality foods. Another such area is healthy and “free-from” foods. Health awareness is a growing trend in the Baltics, as it is throughout Europe. Gluten-free pastries, sugar-free sweets, vegan ingredients, and protein-rich snacks produced by Hungarian manufacturers have a good chance of finding distributors in the region.

International presence – from Athens to Bucharest

Prior to the Baltic Business Forum, 14 Hungarian companies met with Greek buyers in Athens on October 20–21, and soon the Hungarian Food Business Program B2B event will continue in Bucharest on November 26–27, where Hungarian food industry SMEs can gauge interest in the Romanian and Balkan markets.