The 9th edition of the WorldFood Poland is behind us!

The 9th edition of the WorldFood Poland is behind us!

The most important event in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe dedicated to the food sector, WorldFood Poland, took place from April 18th to 20th, 2023, at Expo XXI in Warsaw. For the ninth time, we brought the entire industry together during one event.

After a period of economic slowdown caused by inflation, the war in Ukraine, and the pandemic and associated lockdowns, participating in valuable industry trade fairs has become a key element of the marketing strategy for many companies. In a difficult time for business, many companies are consciously seeking development and building a positive image in the domestic and international arena.

That is why, 289 companies exhibited at the WorldFood Poland fair, which 45% of them was from abroad. Visitors had the opportunity to know and taste products that are not yet available on the Polish market. The entire event was complemented by a rich conference program, including over 40 debates and lectures on two stages, as well as numerous attractions and contests, making it not only an excellent opportunity for getting new business contacts but also great entertainment.

Truly international character

Our dear guests had a unique opportunity to admire 289 exhibitors’ stands from 32 different countries. Among them were beautiful national pavilions from Tunisia, Ukraine, Thailand, Greece, North Macedonia, and Sri Lanka. Of course, the fair could not be complete without special sectors dedicated to Italian and Spanish cuisine – Bellavita and Iberica – offering a wide selection of high-quality food and beverages from both countries.

What is more, the Food & Wine Academy was held in the Bellavita pavilion, which successfully offered participants an extraordinary culinary experience, filling the hall with the fragrances of exquisite Italian specialties. It was there that guests could taste dishes prepared by such outstanding chefs as Emiliano Castagna from the Italian Culinary Academy and Anuelo Serra from the Association of Professional Italian Chefs in Poland. For lovers of Italian cuisine, it was an absolutely unforgettable experience.

It is also worth noting that this year’s fair featured for the first time a national pavilion of North Macedonia, where exhibitors presented, among other things, a rich selection of wines and where B2B meetings combined with tastings took place. Additionally, despite the difficult geopolitical situation, there were also many entrepreneurs from Ukraine who represented their country.

Business meetings

Business meetings are an essential element of the WorldFood Poland fair, and this year’s edition proved to be particularly fruitful. Many valuable conversations took place in the B2B meetings zone, enabling business contacts to be established with merchants not only from Poland but also from around the world.

It should be emphasized that this year we managed to attract the attention of buyers from various retail formats, including retail chains, pharmacies, specialty stores, online stores, and gas stations, which is excellent evidence of how important fairs are for a wide range of industries. Distinguished buyers, including Auchan, Carrefour, Empik, Eurocash, Biedronka, Dr. Max, Dino Polska, PKN Orlen, Barbora.pl, NFTY, Medinn, and Kuchnie Świata, were among the participants in the meetings. We are pleased that this year the renowned Polish brand “Dolina Dobra” was the partner of the B2B Meetings Zone.

Over 40 debates and lectures

During the three days of the WorldFood Poland trade fair, many important topics were presented for the food industry, from ways of promoting Polish brands abroad, through key aspects related to the deposit system for packaging, to the latest trends in the market for dietary supplements and the future of organic food. The substantive program was a unique opportunity to deepen knowledge and gain valuable information for conducting business in the FMCG industry in today’s times. On the second day of the fair, the focus was on key trends in the food industry, such as the transformation of the food system in Poland, the market for alternative protein sources, production of cell-based meat and the prospects for the development of the dietary supplement market. On the last day of the fair, issues related to export, developing business in foreign markets, supply chain, and the operation of the power system were discussed. All of these presentations and discussions provided invaluable guidance for entrepreneurs in the food industry who want to develop their businesses and introduce innovations, while also caring for the natural environment and the well-being of their employees.

Selection of the best products

The Gold Medal contest accompanying the WorldFood Poland trade fair is an essential element of selecting and promoting the best products presented by exhibitors. In the Tasting Zone, members of the jury of the competition, including representatives of retail chains and the HoReCa sector, industry associations and organizations, as well as nutrition experts, had the opportunity to test over 130 food products and dietary supplements. Wonderful flavors and aromas that passed the scrupulous assessment allowed the winners to be selected. On the second day products of Gold Medal winners were evaluated by the fair’s audience in the Tasting Zone. In addition, each person who voted for their favourite product had a chance to win valuable prizes. As part of the Business Best Choice, the winner of the competition received support in the form of PLN 10,000 for their booth at the next edition of the fair. All Gold Medal Winners received a professional photo session by specialists from the “Od kuchni” studio. What is more, in the Bellavita area, visitors took on the responsibility of choosing the best product from among 600 offered by 50 brands in the Bellavita and Iberica sectors.

We invite you to the jubilee edition next year

The 9th edition of the WorldFood Poland trade fair has come to an end, and we can proudly say that it was an extremely successful edition. During the three-day event, we were able to host as many as 289 exhibitors from 32 countries and thousands of visitors. We would like to thank all participants and partners for such a wonderful fair, which once again proved to be an excellent opportunity to establish business contacts and present the best food products on the market.

We look forward to the next jubilee, 10th edition of WorldFood Poland, which will take place on April 16-18 at EXPO XXI in Warsaw. It will be an unforgettable event, to which we cordially invite you now!