Furnidec Business, held from 18 to 20 March at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, will once again serve as a key driving force for the furniture sector, placing emphasis on extroversion.

The most historic exhibition of the sector serves as the field where all new furniture and interior design trends will be presented, with the participation of approximately 145 trade visitors invited to attend from throughout the country, as well as Cyprus and Turkey.

Furnidec Business addresses the majority of professionals working in the sectors of furniture, design and decoration, placing great emphasis on both domestic and professional furniture.

The exhibition, organised by TIF-Helexpo, hosts professionals from various fields, such as furniture and decoration traders, as well as architectures, decorators, designers and hoteliers.

This year’s Furnidec Business is enriched with parallel events that upgrade its added value.

The most outstanding event held this year is the ‘Furniture Export Marketing Forum’. This conference on the current status of the Greek furniture sector is a purely addressed to professionals and will provide an analysis of current conditions in our country regarding the sector.

Its goal is to analyse the importance of extroversion and penetration of Greek furniture-makers into international markets.

For this purpose, the conference will include acclaimed speakers such as Mr Matteo Grigolini, a researcher and representative CSIL Milan, the Centre for Industrial Studies, who will present analyses based on the latest report of the Institute. Other speakers will include two representatives of the ‘Enterprise Greece’ agency, Mr Velissarios Dotsis, the CEO, and Mr Menos Aggelakis, the external trade coordinator.

The 1^st Furniture Export Marketing Forum will be held at Thessaloniki International Exhibition and Congress Centre on Friday, 18 March, from 15.30 to 19.30.

17/03/2016 – 17:03

A ‘breath of fresh air’ in the fruit and vegetable sector

A ‘fresh’ exhibition that is gradually entering a period of maturity, bearing the best possible ‘fruit’, will welcome exhibitors and visitors from 21 to 23 April 2016 at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

This exhibition is none other than ‘Freskon’, which is not merely an exhibition, but an international trade show that is particularly important for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector.

The exhibition includes numerous parallel events, including the B2B FRESHCON MARKET, as well as the highly expected 1^st International Vegetables & Asparagus Conference.

At Freskon, the ‘fruit’ of the collaboration between TIF-Helexpo and ‘Froutonea’ magazine, exhibitors and visitors will have the opportunity to carry out new business deals and partnerships, as they will be able to meet with the most important distributors of fresh fruit and vegetables in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

10/03/2016 – 11:31

66% increase in trade visitor numbers at Detrop Boutique and Artozyma, 20% at the Hellenic Jewellery Fair

The Detrop Boutique and Artozyma exhibitions, which presented the latest developments in the sectors of food-beverages, bakery and confectionery at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre from 26 to 29 February, recorded high visitor numbers, with a total of 31,137 visitors (trade visitors and special categories-group visits). In fact, the number of trade visitors who visited the two exhibitions was increased by 66% compared to last year’s number. At the same time, the number of trade visitors at the Hellenic Jewellery Fair, which was held in Athens, was increased by 20%.

Detrop Boutique and Artozyma hosted over 300 exhibitors at six pavilions (covering a gross area of 20,000 m²), representing numerous different fields of the sectors of food-beverages, bakery and confectionery, with enterprises producing both brand-name and private-label products. The 110 trade visitors and hosted buyers who attended the two exhibitions came from Romania, Germany, Spain, Austria, Russia, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, England, Cyprus and Albania, and attended over 3,000 business meetings with Greek exhibitors. The Hellenic Jewellery Fair hosted 270 exhibitors, covering an exhibition area of 6,100 m², and was attended by trade visitors from Cyprus, Russia, Belarus, Lebanon and the Netherlands.

The parallel events schedule of Detrop Boutique and Artozyma was particularly rich, ranging from pop-up restaurants with interesting gastronomic proposals, Master Classes by distinguished chefs and tasting events to impressive confectionery creations and the 2^nd Pan-Hellenic Bread Championship. In fact, with the support of TIF-Helexpo, the winner was named as the National Baking Team that will represent our country at sector events abroad.

Apart from the exhibition and business aspect, though, the two exhibitions also had a social dimension. For this reason, TIF-Helexpo would like to thank its exhibitors for the products (food, bread, sweets and raw materials) they donated to the Greek Children’s Village in Filyro, to the Deputy Mayoralty for Social Welfare of the Municipality of Thessaloniki for the soup kitchens, and to refugees.

07/03/2016 – 12:41

The DETROP BOUTIQUE, ARTOZYMA & HELLENIC JEWELLERY Exhibitions at the Starting Line 

Growth through increased extroversion and incorporation of high added value in the food and beverages of domestic production and processing SMEs was depicted in the most graphic manner at this year’s DETROP BOUTIQUE and ARTOZYMA exhibitions.

At the same time, the HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR International Exhibition for Jewellery, Precious Stones, Machinery & Equipment highlights the dynamism and modern face of Greek jewellery, which boasts a history of almost 6,000 years.

These three exhibitions are being organised by TIF-Helexpo from 26 to 29 February, with DETROP BOUTIQUE and ARTOZYMA being held at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre and HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR being held at Metropolitan Expo in Athens.

As noted by Ms Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha, the Deputy Minister of Interior & Administrative Reform (Macedonia-Thrace), during today’s Press Conference, these exhibitions, their content and goals are aligned with the country’s developmental effort.

Ms Kollia also noted that the numerous and varied events held as part of the exhibitions communicate technical knowledge and culture, stressing that DETROP BOUTIQUE and ARTOZYMA can become established as the largest such exhibitions in the broader region.

In turn, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, the CEO of TIF-Helexpo, initially referred to the national exhibition agency’s performance from the beginning of 2016 to date. The Agrotica, Infacoma, Aqua Therm, Detrop Boutique, Artozyma and Hellenic Jewellery Fair exhibitions have attracted a total of 2,500 enterprises-exhibitors and 150,000 visitors (without taking into account the number of visitors who will attend DETROP BOUTIQUE, ARTOZYMA and HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR).

The dissemination of these results in the broader region of Thessaloniki is estimated to have resulted in an influx of 30-44 million euros for the local economy (hotels, catering enterprises, transport enterprises, etc.).

According to Mr Pozrikidis, the DETROP BOUTIQUE and ARTOZYMA exhibitions will be attended by 110 foreign trade visitors and hosted buyers representing importing companies, distributors, wholesale enterprises, Horeca & catering enterprises, bakery-patisserie chains, etc. from 13 countries. A total of 3,000 pre-arranged B2B meetings are expected to be attended exclusively by the participants of the two exhibitions, while group delegations of trade visitors are being expected from FYROM (a group of 100 delegates), Albania and Serbia.

The enterprises participating in HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR will be welcoming trade visitors from Cyprus, Russia, Belarus, Lebanon and the Netherlands.

Mr Neofytos Papadopoulos, the Vice-President of the Hellenic Federation of Bakers, specifically referred to the organisation of ARTOZYMA, stressing that the goal is to establish it as a major Balkan event. The exhibition will also include the 2^nd Pan-Hellenic Bread Championship, with 6 regions of the country being represented and the winner being named the National Baking Team.

Mr Marios Papadopoulos, the President of the Guild of Patisserie Owners of Thessaloniki, underlined the integral connection between Thessaloniki and the confectionary art. In this context, he announced the effort to showcase Thessaloniki as the “city of sweets” and referred to the initiatives to be implemented by the city’s patisseries during the upcoming exhibitions.

Chef Panayiotis Delithanassis referred to the tasting and gastronomy aspects of DETROP BOUTIQUE and ARTOZYMA, as the parallel events will include the ‘Cheese & Wine’ thematic event and Master Classes by distinguished chefs.

As regards the HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR, Mr Anastassios Kanakaris, the 1^st Vice-President of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Craft Silversmiths Jewellers & Watch Sellers (POVAKO), described it as the “flagship” of jewellery fairs held in the country. Exhibitors will number almost 270 this year and the HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR will be larger than ever before.

Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, the deputy general director of TIF-Helexpo, presented the next exhibition events to be organised by the national exhibition agency during the first half of the year, while noting the exceptional performance of the Choco Factory & Museum in Athens in terms of visitor numbers.

The 26^th DETROP BOUTIQUE and the 7^th ARTOZYMA  will take place with the participation of over 300 exhibitors in six pavilions (covering a gross area of 20,000 m²) representing many different sectors of the food and beverage industry and enterprises producing both brand-name and private-label products.

Trade visitors attending the two exhibitions will be coming from Romania, Germany, Spain, Austria, Russia, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, England, Cyprus and Albania.

The top thematic event at DETROP BOUTIQUE will be ‘Cheese & Wine’, with these two products being present together as an exhibition event for the very first time in Greece. The tasting events at ‘Cheese & Wine’ will be conducted by the distinguished connoisseur Elias Mamalakis, while the Greek wine map will be presented by award-winning oenologist and sommelier Apostolos Plahouras. Master Classes will be run by Dimitris Skarmoutsos, Christoforos Peskias and Panayiotis Delithanassis.

As an innovative exhibition, DETROP BOUTIQUE encompasses unique elements and inspired events, such as Pop-up restaurants, in the sense of emerging restaurants, where pioneering gastronomic demonstrations will be presented at a special dining area with varied themes.

Furthermore, exhibitors will have the unique opportunity of premiering their new products on the shelves of the CORNER SHOWROOM ‘It’s all new to me’ provided by the exhibition and contending for an honorary award!

DETROP BOUTIQUE and ARTOZYMA are not only intensely and dynamically commercial and professional in orientation, but are also supported by a rich programme of parallel events.

The most noteworthy such event is the extensive and diligently planned schedule of specialised speeches, seminars and workshops to be held in the context of DETROP BOUTIQUE, covering a broad range of issues related to the food and beverage sector.

Additionally, a colloquium will be held this Sunday on Kosher/Halal religious certification, which serves as a ‘passport’ for the export of related products & services.

Apart from the Pan-Hellenic Bread Championship, ARTOZYMA will also feature a colloquium organised by the Hellenic Association of Food Technologists on ‘Technology – Innovation in Baking and Confectionary’, as well as the annual meeting of the Presidents of Greek Bakers’ Unions.

The parallel events of HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR will feature a seminar held over the coming weekend on the subject of synthetic diamonds, focusing on the methods for their production and recognition, as well as new developments in the jewellery industry.

DETROP BOUTIQUE is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior & Administrative Reform (Macedonia-Thrace) and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, as well as many sector agencies, and is supported by numerous sponsors.

ARTOZYMA is being held under the auspices of the Hellenic Federation of Bakers, with the support of the Guild of Patisserie Owners of Thessaloniki and the ‘Profitis Elias’ Bakers’ Union of Thessaloniki.

*From left to right, Chef Panayiotis Delithanassis, Mr Marios Papadopoulos, the President of the Guild of Patisserie Owners of Thessaloniki, Mr Anastassios Kanakaris, the 1st Vice-President of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Craft Silversmiths Jewellers & Watch Sellers (POVAKO), Ms Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha, the Deputy Minister of Interior & Administrative Reform (Macedonia-Thrace), Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, the CEO of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Neofytos Papadopoulos, the Vice-President of the Hellenic Federation of Bakers, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, the deputy general director of TIF-Helexpo, Mrs Sevi Kaffa, the project manager of Detrop Boutique and Mrs Araxia Ganapetian, the project manager of Artozyma. 

 

25/02/2016 – 17:40

Everything about furniture and interior design at Furnidec Business

All new furniture and interior design trends will be presented at Furnidec Business, the first exhibition of the sector this year as well the most long-lived, which will be held at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre from 18 to 20 March. More dynamic than ever before, this year’s exhibition exudes creativity and features countless ideas, from the most stark to the most luxurious furnishings for every space, style and need.

High-quality design has become a mainstay in the minds of manufacturers and traders, as they increasingly produce and promote products based on industrial design. In this context, Furnidec Business represents the best that the sector has to offer in terms of design and production, presenting products and solutions of top aesthetics, functionality, ergonomics and style.

Furnidec Business will feature two main categories, domestic and professional furniture, as well as comprehensive proposals from the creative world of modern design and interior decoration. The exhibition, which is being organised by TIF-Helexpo, will host professionals from various fields, such as traders of furniture and decoration products, architects, decorators, designers and hoteliers. 

Once again, parallel events will serve as the ace up the sleeve of the exhibition. In the framework of this year’s Furnidec Business, a conference has been scheduled under the title ‘Furniture Export Marketing Forum’, focusing on the current state of the furniture sector in Greece. This is a purely professional conference where the current situation of the sector in our country will be analysed. The keynote speaker is Ms Paola Govoni, an executive of CSIL Milan, the Centre for Industrial Studies, Chief Editor of ‘World Furniture’ (a quarterly review of economic information and market analysis published by CSIL and focusing on the international furniture industry) and an expert in furniture and interior decoration trends.

23/02/2016 – 14:51

A resplendent “appointment” at the 29^th HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR in Athens

The 29^th ‘HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR’ International Exhibition for Jewellery, Precious Stones, Machinery & Equipment, being held at Metropolitan Expo in Athens from 26 to 29 February, shall serve as a resplendent “appointment” with the jewellery sector. Over 250 companies from the sectors of silver- and gold-smithing as well as clock and watch-making will attend the exhibition, representing the most dynamic part of the Greek jewellery sector, deployed over 6,100 m² of exhibition space.

With the consistent goal of developing the commercial relations of Greek enterprises abroad, TIF-Helexpo has invited trade visitors from Cyprus, Russia, Belarus, Lebanon and the Netherlands to attend the exhibition and contact the enterprises participating in this year’s event.

HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR is the largest international exhibition of the jewellery sector in Greece and the Balkans. It is an ideal meeting place for the professionals of the sector, in view of the upcoming tourism period. Participants include manufacturers, workshops, designers, importers and representatives of jewellery and clocks & watches and the exhibition is exclusively addressed to professionals who wish to be informed about new trends, renew their contacts and develop partnerships with Greek and international companies.

The parallel events of the exhibition will feature a seminar held on the weekend of 27-28 February on synthetic diamonds, focusing on methods for their production and recognition, as well as the current state of the jewellery industry.

HELLENIC JEWELLERY FAIR is being organised by TIF-Helexpo in cooperation with POVACO, the Hellenic Jewellery Federation. It is noted that the national exhibition agency also organises KOSMIMA every October in Thessaloniki to cover the winter season.

17/02/2016 – 11:53

Infacoma and Aqua-Therm open on Thursday

With over 250 exhibitors – including international exhibitors coming from 17 countries – the exhibition ‘duo’ of Infacoma and Aqua-Therm will be open from Thursday, 11 February, until Sunday, 14 February. The two exhibitions, where the sector of construction and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry will be presented, cover 11,000 m² and are deployed in Pavilions 13 and 15. Infacoma and Aqua-Therm will feature, among others, hosted buyers (foreign trade visitors) from Cyprus, Russia, Turkey, Romania and FYROM, who have been invited by TIF-Helexpo to attend meetings with Greek exhibitors.

The internationally renowned Aqua-Therm exhibition is being held for the first time in Greece and is the result of cooperation between TIF-Helexpo and Reed Messe Wien, the Austrian subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions, the largest exhibition group in the world. It is one of the most specialised exhibitions concerning the sectors of residential and industrial heating, air conditioning and ventilation, water supply, sewerage and water management. Its exhibitors will include major enterprises of the domestic plastics industry and will be hosted at Pavilion 15.

Infacoma, celebrating 33 years of history in 2015, is the only exhibition in the field of building and construction and has proved exceptionally resilient, despite the difficulties facing the sector. The participation of Greek enterprises in the two exhibitions is particularly encouraging, despite the fact that the construction sector is facing problems. Nevertheless, Infacoma and Aqua-Therm will reflect the positive messages received by the construction sector, particularly on the tourism front, and its investment mobility. At the same time, the exhibitions will showcase all modern technologies and energy forms that have adapted to the sustainable growth requirements of the modern age.

In the framework of the parallel events of the exhibition ‘duo’, a ‘green’ project organised by TIF-Helexpo and Interiors from Greece will be set up under the name DPOINT Green Village, which will focus on sustainability, energy saving and utilisation of new resources. The event will include a virtual tour of 0+ HOUSE, a house that is harmonised with ‘green’ practices and is 100% viable (sustainability and low CO2 emissions). The event will take place in a specially modified area within Pavilion 13. Other events include the DPOINT GREEN CONFERENCE, which host professionals and academics involved in ‘green’ building and alternative energy sources.

On the occasion of the exhibitions, the Deputy Minister of Industry at the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, Ms Theodora Tzakri, will visit Pavilion 13 (DPOINT Green Village events site) on Friday, 12 February, at 19.00, where she will speak about the funding tools of the new NSRF as a driving force for industry.

The two exhibitions will be open on Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 11.00 to 20.00 and on Saturday from 11.00 to 21.00.

12/02/2016 – 17:41

Energy and construction at the focus of ‘Aqua-Therm’ and ‘Infacoma’

The dynamism and extroversion of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry and of the construction sector, in general, will be presented at this year’s exhibition duo consisting of ‘Aqua-Therm’ and ‘Infacoma’.

The two exhibitions, held from 11 to 14 February 2016 at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, encapsulate the effort to reboot investments in the construction sector, spearheaded by major plans being mainly implemented in the field of tourism.

At the same time, ‘Aqua-Therm’ and ‘Infacoma’ reflect all modern technologies and forms of energy, with emphasis placed on viability and sustainable growth.

Water management, renewable energy sources, pellet fuel, natural gas, solar energy and geothermal energy for heating-cooling and in boilers-heaters, heat pumps, infrared heating, new materials, building upgrades, energy saving and modern architecture will meet at the two exhibitions.

The 1^st Aqua-Therm exhibition is the result of cooperation between TIF-HELEXPO and the largest exhibition group in the world, Reed Exhibitions.

Infacoma is the oldest exhibition in the field of building and construction, as it has been setting and observing sector trends, serving as the nerve centre of business networking and providing the opportunity for important B2B meetings and agreements for 33 years.

The exhibition will also feature the parallel event titled ‘DPOINT GREEN VILLAGE’, which focuses on sustainability and ‘green’ construction. The event will feature a virtual tour of 0+ HOUSE, a house that is harmonised with ‘green’ practices and is 100% viable (sustainability and low CO2 emissions).

In the same framework, a related conference has been scheduled under the title ‘DPOINT GREEN CONFERENCE’ to host professionals and academics involved in ‘green’ building and alternative energy sources.

03/02/2016 – 18:16

123,723 visitors at the 26^th Agrotica

The 26^th Agrotica welcomed over 120,000 visitors, marking this year’s Fair as a true ‘feast’ of the agricultural world. Despite the farmers’ demonstrations and the difficulties in accessing Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre during the four days of the event (28-31 January), 123,723 visitors gave their vote of confidence to the largest agricultural event in South-East Europe. In fact, apart from total attendance by the public, there was a significant increase of 51% in the number of foreign trade visitors, who came from 22 countries.

The 26^th Agrotica, which began with a record number of participants, as it featured over 1,500 exhibitors, as compared to 1,349 during the previous Fair, and a record number of countries represented by their exhibitors, coming to 41, as compared to 35 in 2014, was completed in the best possible way. In fact, the interest of the agricultural world, whose members filled the pavilions to receive information on the latest developments in the sector, was particularly felt during the weekend, when Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre was inundated with visitors.

There was also great participation in the parallel events of the 26^th Agrotica, which complemented the Fair in the best possible way. It is characteristic that 750 individuals participated in the 6^th Pan-Hellenic Conference of the event titled ‘New technologies and prospects in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables’, jointly organised by TIF-Helexpo and the School of Agriculture of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

TIF-Helexpo is renewing its exhibition ‘date’ with the world of the primary sector for February 2017, with the organisation of the 10^th ‘Zootechnia’ International Fair for Livestock and Poultry. 

01/02/2016 – 13:56

26 January 2016

The 26th and best-ever Agrotica begins!

The 26th Agrotica, open at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre from January 28 to 31 will be the best in the history of the institution. This year’s event achieved a record number of participations, with over 1,500 exhibitors, as compared to 1,349 exhibitors at the 2014 Agrotica, and covers an exhibition area of 34,000 square metres, as compared to 30,929 square metres at the previous event. Additionally, this year’s Agrotica will be welcoming a record number of countries represented by exhibitors, with a total of 41, as compared to 35 in 2014. The number of foreign exhibitors came to 882, as compared to 817 at the previous event.

The national exhibition agency has also invited and is hosting hosted buyers from Cyprus, Iraq, Lebanon, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt and Serbia, who will attend B2B meetings.

The 26th International Fair for Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies will be inaugurated by the Minister of Rural Development & Food, Mr Vangelis Apostolou, on Thursday, 28 January, at 19.00 at ‘I. Vellidis’ Congress Centre.

The President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tassos Tzikas, underlined the international character of this year’s Agrotica during today’s Press Conference, referring to a multi-event that, apart from the exhibition element, includes numerous events spearheaded by the 6th Pan-Hellenic Conference on the fruit & vegetable sector. In reference to the farmer demonstrations underway, he noted that farmers love and support Agrotica because it is their Fair.

According to the CEO of the national exhibition agency, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, Agrotica is among the top five agricultural exhibitions in Europe; adding a dimension of scale to the dimensions of this year’s Fair, Mr Pozrikidis added characteristically: “There is not even attic space left vacant at the exhibition centre”.

The Machinery Importers’ – Representatives’ Association (SEAM) is participating in this year’s Agrotica with over 12,000 square metres of exhibition space and a massive presence, against the flow of the crisis, as noted by the President of the Association, Mr Savvas Balouktsis, who explained that the Association is participating in order to present new machinery, support the Fair and bring enterprises in touch with their customers. Asked about the status of the sector, he noted that in 2015, the drop in agricultural machinery sales and particularly tractors was 18% and estimated that it would exceed 30% in 2016.

In turn, the Greek Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery (EKAGEM), participating with 89 direct exhibitors and over 300 indirect exhibitors, is covering over 8,000 square metres of exhibition space, according to its Vice-President, Mr Andreas Koutsokostas, who invited farmers to visit the Fair, the only one for the agricultural sector.

The Vice-President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Lazaros Lazaridis, noted that Agrotica would be at the epicentre of the country’s agricultural life over the next few days and wished good sales to the exhibitors. Finally, the Project Manager of Agrotica, Mr Vassilis Spirou, noted that the agricultural supplies sector has returned and is participating almost in its entirety, with the presence of large multinational companies that had not attended the Fair in a long time.

Numerous associations, organisations and agencies are participating in this year’s Agrotica. Apart from the competent Ministry of Rural Development & Food, participants include EKAGEM and SEAM, which are supporters of the Fair, the Pan-Hellenic Union of Young Farmers, the Hellenic Fertilizer Association, the Farmers’ Union, the Agricultural Association of Macedonia and others.

At this year’s Agrotica, there will be free parking for the entire duration of the Fair at OLTH (Thessaloniki Port Authority) premises; this will be extended during the weekend to within AUTH (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).

This year’s Fair is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction (Macedonia-Thrace).

27/01/2016 – 18:16