The second edition of Fine Food India 2012 was held at Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre in New Delhi from September 17 to 19, 2012.
Over 3,500 retailers, buyers, importers, and hoteliers attended the show to meet the manufacturers, producers, exporters, and sellers of food and drink items in India and around the world. The major participating brands included Pepsi, Electrolux, Himalayan Waters, Nestle, Rational, Amrit Food, Tata Chemicals and AGS Transact Technologies. Top international companies from France, Spain, USA, Australia, China, Russia, Malaysia, Thailand, Poland, Mexico, Pakistan, Iran, Chile, Italy, and India showcased their varied range of specialty and fine foods, gourmet foods, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, ingredients and spices, bakery and biscuits, confections and snacks, dairy, and hospitality services.
Andreas Karaiskakis, minister plenipotentiary for economic & commercial affairs, Embassy of Greece, commented, “Fine Food India is an interesting show in India. It is very well organised and the exhibiting companies are quite relevant to the business. The organisers are doing a good job in putting together a show of this calibre. It is the first time for Olivéma, a Greek company, to participate in Fine Food India and we will surely encourage other Greek companies to participate in this show in the years to come.”
Along with opportunities for networking and business development, the show hosted informative business forums, cooking demonstrations, international and local wine tastings, chef’s masterclasses, etc. Chef Sabyasachi ‘Saby’ Gorai, director, Olive Bar & Kitchen, inaugurated the Chef’s Master Class Theatre.
Saby elaborated on the ‘Art on plate’ methodology during his session and explained that cooking was an art, the ultimate form of expression. He generously shared his ideas and recommendations on unique and exotic dishes, and suggested useful tips and easier methods of cooking to his audience.
Other top chefs who participated were chef Manish Mehrohtra, executive chef, Indian Accent; chef Yutaka Saito, Megu, The Leela Hotel; chef Mickey Bhoite, Le Cirque, the Leela Hotel; chef Ludovic, international culinary advisor, Elle & Vire; chef Thomas Blachard, executive chef, L’Opera; chef Barnhard, the Lalit Hotel; chef Nishant Choubey, Dusit Bird Hotel; and Chef Anshul.
Top restaurateurs from all over India attended the Restaurant Forum moderated by Samir Kuckreja, founder & CEO, Tasanaya Hospitality, on the first day. The Retail Forum on the second day recorded full attendance. Major retailers, Avni Biyani, CEO, Future Group; Mini Yadav, owner, Le Marche; Mohit Khattar, MD, CEO, Godrej Nature’s Basket; Sanjay Tandon, MD, Epicure Frozen Foods and Beverages and VP, Dabon International (P) Ltd; and Claude Bertrand, CEO, Dabon International; were some of the guest speakers who discussed opportunities for the Indian retailers to evolve with the changing Indian taste palate. Both the sessions in the Business Forum gave the food service operators and restaurateurs from across India an understanding of the new trends, platform to discuss ideas, witness innovations and view a wide range of products specific to the industry.
