FAS Sofia Exhibits at Inter Food and Drink Trade Show, Bulgaria

FAS Sofia exhibited for the second time at the Inter Food and Drink trade show in Sofia, Bulgaria, November 6-9, 2019. 24 importers and more than 100 U.S. agricultural products (by SKU) were displayed at the USDA booth. Product categories included whiskey, wine (10 wineries), craft beer, tree nuts (almonds, pecans, pistachios), peanuts, dried fruits (cranberries and blueberries), popcorn, barbeque sauces, Coca-Cola’s main soft drink brands, including Fuze Tea, a new non-carbonated drink, beef, hops, fish roe, and other products (plant protein products, organic products, functional foods such as whey protein powder).  FAS Sofia invited one of Eastern Europe’s premier culinary schools, HRC Culinary Academy, to cook and provide samples from Chef Cynthia Barcomi’s cookbook featuring U.S. products and ingredients. Four new to market U.S. whiskies and confectionery products, namely Hershey’s and Reese’s, as well as several U.S. craft beer brands were showcased in Bulgaria for the first time. U.S. Ambassador Herro Mustafa delivered opening remarks at the official opening of the show. After the opening she visited the USDA booth and met with the importers and FAS staff.

Well-known in Bulgaria and in Southeastern Europe, Inter Food and Drink is growing among Bulgarian and foreign companies, business delegations, and trade missions. The exhibition also serves as a business platform for participation in conferences, contests, presentations, seminars, business meetings, and more. In its six exhibition halls, Inter Expo Center gathered more than 550 exhibitors, over 24,000 trade visitors and buyers, and presented more than 1,200 brands. An associated element of the fair was #Retail Show – a new trade fair for retail industry in Bulgaria and on the Balkans.