On November 19, 20 and 21, the 28th International Food Exhibition "Peterfood-2019" (organized by CEC "Imperia") was held with great success in St. Petersburg. For the third year in a row, the exhibition has shown a 30 % increase in indicators. The data for this year: 250 producers at stands from 15 countries and 28 regions of Russia, 160 purchasers of FMCG and HoReCa chains and more than 8,000 industry visitors.

Among the participating countries: Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Moldova, USA, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Japan. The Russian exhibitors geography covered more than 60 Russian cities, and 28 regions of Russia were represented by large collective stands: Krasnodar Krai, Kamchatka, Tula Oblast, Khakassia, Kuban, Khabarovsk Krai, Omsk Oblast, Lipetsk Oblast, Novosibirsk, Tambov, Pskov, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Republic of Adygea, Bryansk Oblast, Tver Oblast, Altai Krai and others.

In honor of the exhibition opening, representatives of delegations from Russian regions cut a 15‑meter pie to the beat of drums.

Together with the organizers, the exhibition was opened by Sergey Muravyov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Industrial Policy, Innovations and Trade of St. Petersburg, Andrei Danilenko, Author and leader of the project "SVOE", Head of the Committee on Agriculture of Business Russia.

The main business event was the anniversary Chains Procurement Center™, which was first organized at the exhibition "Peterfood" exactly 20 years ago. In 2019, it gathered 180 suppliers and 160 purchasers from 70 chains, who in 3 days held almost 5,000 negotiations on the supply of both their own producer brand and the private label production. The year's largest regional meeting of suppliers with retail brought together purchasers of such chains as: VkusVill, Auchan, Pyaterochka, Magnit, O'Kay, Perekrestok, Dixie, METRO C&C, Spar and others.

For the first time at the exhibition "Peterfood", in addition to retail chains, delegates also negotiated the supply of food products to cafe and restaurant chains (HoReCa segment): Subway, Bushe, Teremok, Mama Roma and more than 20 chains came to purchase a new assortment.

About the history of the Chains Procurement Center™, as well as the facts and figures of the exhibition "Peterfood-2019" – in a comment by Viktor Andreev, Chairman of the Exhibition Organizing Committee https://www.facebook.com/Postavkivseti/videos/vb.367165276731430/428654131405541/?type=2&theater

All three days at "Peterfood-2019", the program "Active Chain Participation" was held. More than 150 purchasers of federal and regional FMCG and HoReCa chains, commercial directors and category managers, accompanied by business guides, walked through the producers' stands for negotiations and tastings. Through this program, "Peterfood" is the only exhibition in the country that provides guaranteed contacts of exhibitors and purchasers directly at the stands, as it would be in the company offices.

Within the exhibition, the 19th Food Forum "Big City Trade" was held, bringing together more than 350 delegates: food product producers and suppliers, representatives of retail, industry associations and the media. The Forum was attended by representatives of the following companies: X5 Retail Group, Prisma, VkusVill, Dixie, Gradusi vsego mira, Infoline, Nika and others.

Among the business program events:

• The open program "Days of Food Retail" was a great success, where 30 open seminars were held. In three days, they attracted a record number of buyers – 900 chain and traditional retail purchasers, wholesalers and distributors, and companies in the HoReCa sector. They all visited exhibitor stands for negotiations and product tastings.

• IV North-West Trade Forum "Non-commercial purchases in retail chains". The Forum purpose is to give the supplier information for entering the chain with a non-commercial assortment.

• ·Salon "PETERFOODTECH-2019" is an exhibition that brought together suppliers of the entire range of goods and services necessary for the full functioning of the retail chains and the manufacturing enterprise. For the first time, within the Salon, "Technology Street for Retail" was organized together with the portal Retail.ru.

Tasting contest "Our Brand" and Contest "Innovation Product-2019" – more than 150 food products from 28 regions of Russia were announced for these contests. Product quality assessment was given by leading experts of the "Center of Work and Service Quality of Saint Petersburg" and representatives of the ITMO Institute. The competent jury also included recognized experts and chain purchasers. As a result, 47 companies were awarded gold and silver medals, whose products meet modern world standards, are notable for novelty and high quality.

Open contest "Chains Selection" was conducted by representatives of 50 retail chains of St. Petersburg and the North-West region. A business space was organized for the competitive products presentation, where an open vote was also held within the contest "Chains Selection". 92 food products received diplomas.

In addition to the official part, all three days at the exhibitor stands there were presentations of new products, tastings of delicacies and bloggers live broadcasts. The highlight of the exhibition was the culinary master class by star brand chef Vladimir Pavlov. Especially for exhibitors and guests of the city, a historical tour was organized with a visit to the sights of St. Petersburg and a banquet with jazz improvisations from the musical group The Big Buddy Band.

According to the survey results, more than 85 % of exhibitors are satisfied with the exhibition results and will recommend it to their partners. Next time, food suppliers are ready to meet with chains in Moscow at the exhibition "Prodexpo-2020" (www.prodforum.ru).