Press Release

Prodtech - 2009

Official support:

• Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
• St.Petersburg Government
• Government of the Leningrad Region
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
• National Packaging Confederation

The InterFood and Prodtech 2009 exhibitions featured 84 companies from Kazan, Kaliningrad, Bryansk, Belgorod, Barnaul, Lvov, Chernigov, Minsk, Poltava, Grodno, Bobruisk, St.Petersburg, Novgorod, Moscow and Moscow region.

Over three days 3,600 specialists attended the exhibitions.

7 April the following people took part in the exhibition's official opening ceremony:

• Kobitskiy D. A., Vice Chairman of the Committee for Economy Development, Industry Policy and Trade of St.Petersburg Government
• Kotov Ђ.I., Vice Chairman of the Committee for Economy Development, Industry Policy and Trade of St.Petersburg Government
• Boyko A.G., Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the Development of the Packaging Industry of the Committee for Industrial Development of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Executive director of the National Packaging Confederation
• Varenov A.V., Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries of the Leningrad Region, Chief of Department for Economics, Finance and Agricultural Policy
• Katenev V.I., President of St.Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Glison I., Head of the Economic Department of the British Embassy in Moscow
• Kirsanov I.P., General Director, RESTECT Exhibition Company
• Lubina I.A., Deputy Director, Primexpo ltd
• Semenova A.V., Division Director, Food Industry and Packaging Exhibitions Department, Primexpo ltd
• Lunina E.A., Director of Food Industry Exhibition Division, RESTECT Exhibition Company

The exhibition was officially opened by Kotov Ђ.I., Vice Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development, Industry Policy and Trade of St.Petersburg and Katenev V.I., President of the St.Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The main event, held concurrently to the exhibitions was the 12th INTERNATIONAL NORTHWEST FOOD FORUM.

The Forum attracted a lot of interest amongst the specialists in the food industry. The main feature of the Forum was the Conference entitled, 'The food-processing industry is a priority branch of the economy of Russia'. The conference covered issues such as food safety, innovative technologies for food processing and storage, crisis management, new marketing methods, company development whilst reducing costs, opportunities during the economic crisis, state support of factories, investment, etc. One of the more popular sessions dealt with investment and financial management.

The following professionals spoke during the Forum:

1. M.L. Mamikonyan, Chairman of the Meat Union of Russia
2. Ђ.G. Pavlov, General Director of the North-West branch of X5 Retail Group
3. Ђ.N. Tretiakov, Chairman of the St.Petersburg Association of Small Business in the Consumer Market
4. ….Ћ. Tsereteli, Chairman of the Community Board for Small Business Development at the Government of St.Petersburg
5. Ђ.S. Olhovskiy, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Industry, Economics and Property of the St.Petersburg Government
6. S.I. Solovieva, General Director of the FGU 'Centre for Testing and Certification of St.Petersburg'
7. V.V. Chulkov, Director of the Marketing Department at JSC 'Talina'
8. J.I. Saharova, Director of HeadHunter: St.Petersburg

The Forum welcomed representatives of branding and marketing agencies, retail chains and stores, investment companies, and key businesses in the food, processing and packagiing industries.

During the exhibitions and forum, an exc hang e of busin ess contac ts was organised. The initiative brings together food and equipment producers, buyers and consumers to negotiate, exchange experiences and present new products.

Representatives from the following companies took part in the exchange of business contacts:

• X5 Retail Group (retail chains 'Pyaterochka', 'Karusel', 'Perekrestok')
• Retail chain 'Lenta'
• Retail chain 'Polushka'
• Retail chain 'Dieta'
• Distributor company 'Megafood'
• St.Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• St.Petersburg Ecological Union
• Distributor company 'Fregrans'
• Enterprises - the members of the NP 'Guild of Bakers of the Leningrad Region'

The conference and the business contacts exchange programme brought together specialists from St.Petersburg, North-West region, Moscow and other regions of Russia, as well as from Belarus and Ukraine.

COMPETITION: THE INTERFOOD AWARD FOR 'BEST FOOD PRODUCT - 2009'.

The 'Best Food Product - 2009' competition took place as part of the InterFood exhibition. 53 products were entered into the competition in two categories: 'Best New Product in St.Petersburg' and 'Product with the Best Balance between Price and Quality'.

The judging panel, composed of specialists from the Central Laboratory of FGU 'Test - St.Petersburg', GU 'Quality Control Centre for Food (goods) and Services', the Territorial Administration of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare in St.Petersburg, the State Centre for Bread, tasted and assessed the consumer appeal of each sample that was submitted.

The Gala Reception, celebrating the opening of the exhibitions, was held on 7 April 2009 at the 'Gloss' Restaurant. The reception welcomed honorary guests, exhibitors, Primexpo and Restec partners and media representatives.

Exhibitors received gift certificates from information partners: 'Pishepromizdat', ltd; Sfera, the publishing house. Prizes from the following companies were also awarded: travel company 'Baltic Tours', 'Krugozor Expo Travel', 'S-Continental Travel Management Company' and 'Concord Catering'.

During the reception, awards were presented to exhibitors for the most original stand design and best newcomers.

• For the best newcomer - ONIX
• For the best newcomer - KRINITSA, JOINT-STOCK COMPANY
• For the best newcomer - BORISOVSKIY KONSERVNYI ZAVOD
• For the best newcomer - SGOMON
• For the best newcomer - VAMIN TATARSTAN, FILIAL, OAO
• For the best stand - SOYUZSNAB, GROUP OF COMPANIES