Magazine: Crowds of visitors and many exhibitors at Sirha Budapest

Sirha Budapest, held between 9 and 11 May, was a huge success, having attracted more than 20,000 trade visitors and 400 exhibitors from 19 countries to the HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Centre. 24 percent of the visitors of the food, bakery and confectionery, hotel, hospitality and packaging industry trade fair came from the restaurant and hospitality sector, 16 percent represented the food industry, 15 percent were from the bakery and confectionery sectors, 14 percent were retail, 10 percent came from the hotel segment and 8 percent were from services. What is more, 38 percent of these visitors were company owners or directors and 23 percent represented sales and purchasing.

On 10-11 May the European final of the Bocuse d’Or chef competition was also on the programme. Europe’s 10 best chefs were competing and Hungary’s Tamás Széll won, while 11 teams qualified for next year’s world final in Lyon. Zoltán Kolonics organised the second Dessert Competition at Sirha Budapest, there was a Barista Championship – Nikolett Schreiber and József Deák will represent Hungary at the world championship in Dublin – and a Creative Bakery Forum. The Guild of Hungarian Restaurateurs (MVI) organised roundtable discussions about topical issues and the National Association of Catering Executives (ÉLOSZ) had their own day.

In accordance with the spirit of Sirha, the Budapest trade show presented many future trends and product innovations. Futurologist Frédéric Loeb was the main speaker at the World Cuisine Summit, while Trade magazin cooperated with Sirha Budapest to organise an Innovation Competition (the winners were Sága Foods Zrt., eisberg Hungary Kft., m-GEL Hungary Kft., Kaba Zrt., and JRK Waste Management Hungary Kft.). Last but not least Sirha Budapest offered participants the chance to take part in Enterprise Europe Network’s business matchmaking event (from 10 countries 112 participants registered in advance); there was a hosted buyer programme too.