Informative events, innovative products and huge interest from the professional community – Riga Food 2024 reaches another successful milestone

The largest food industry trade fair in the Baltics, Riga Food 2024, took place at the Ķīpsala International Expo Centre in September, attracting the total of 425 exhibiting companies from 32 countries eager to showcase their newest products and services. Foodies, professionals, public and non-governmental actors, industry experts and companies from all over the world used the three-day event to see everything displayed at Ķīpsala.

“The extensive Riga Food show is a well-known place where to go if you want to tune into current industry trends and find new business expansion opportunities. Food manufacturing currently offers a great diversity of products in terms of range and quality. It, of course, is affected by increasing manufacturing resource costs and climate initiatives, as well as global commodity market volatility. However, food companies have found a sustainable model that allows them to stay competitive. So, you should not miss out on opportunities that Riga Food can give you,” Armands Krauze, Minister for Agriculture, urges the sector.

Rolands Nežborts, Director of Riga Food, during the opening also urged companies to use the trade fair to meet their goals. “I am proud that Riga Food attracts more and more cooperation-oriented food industry professionals also from abroad. This year’s exhibition attracted shop, petrol station and wholesale firm representatives who were looking to add the newest products on the market to their stock. Our cooperation partners took care of very diverse event programme that targeted exporting sector, sector’s workforce and all foodies,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs wrote the following on his social media accounts after the visit to Riga Food: “We have excellent food companies – big and small. It was really nice to visit the 29th Riga Food trade fair. Was especially happy to see so many Ukrainian participants!”

425 companies from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Armenia, Belgium, China, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Georgia, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, USA, Finland, Turkey, Sweden, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Mexico, France, India, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Canada, Slovenia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Romania and Sri Lanka, or the total of 32 countries, chose Riga Food 2024 to present their products and services. 70 % of exhibitors represented manufacturing sector, 25 % – retail or wholesale segment, 3 % – services and 2 % came from other sectors.

Riga Food 2024 had the total of 12 national stands – Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Georgia, Canada, Moldova, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Mexico.

In three days, Riga Food was visited by 21 806 visitors, of which 33 % came from other countries. Riga Food attracted professional visitors from 43 countries. According to professionals, the main reason for visiting trade fair was to gather information, new contacts and make purchase orders. Retail chains from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Great Britain and Ukraine, such as Stockmann, Rimi, Elvi, TOP, Depo, Narvesen, Lidl, Maxima, Citro, Sky and Varus, were widely represented along with wholesalers from several countries, for example, Monolith, Wholesalehub and others.

Latvian tastes
National stand of Latvia offered to taste and buy products from 15 local producers all in one place. For the duration of all three days Latvian national stand displayed products from pop-corn maker Snack and More (Pophouse), spice seller RKF Valežs, chocolate producer Premium Chocolate (Nelleulla), fruit and vegetable processing companies Rāmkalni Nordeco and Very Berry, dairy producer Jaunpils pienotava, egg and egg product producer Balticovo, healthy snack maker Perfecto and Kronis cannery. Stand also presented 6 members of the Association of Latvian Bakers: Puratos Latvia, Liepkalni, Lāči, Dona, Lanordija and Lielezers.

Unique Latvian products under European Protected Designation of Origin
Regional tastes section was a great insight into Latvian food products that have won quality awards, an opportunity to talk to their makers, find out more about the inner workings of the manufacturing process and factors contributing to excellent quality. And, of course, the staples of Latvian cuisine were also there and anyone could taste these unique regional foods included in the European Protected Designation of Origin. Visitors of the Riga Food 2024 were offered Latvian large grey peas (made by Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Adzelvieši Farm), carrot buns (Dženeta Marinska), Midsummer’s cheese (artisan producer “Lapsu mājas siers/Fox house cheese”), sweetened rye bread (Association of Latvian Bakers, Lielezers Bakery). Jānis Deinats photo exhibition of people who take care of Latvia’s culinary heritage and manufacturing, storage and promotion of Latvian products under European Protected Designation of Origin also attracted large crowds.

Innovative foods from the Baltics all in one place
Healthy, innovative and gluten-free – these are the words that best characterise what food industry has created in recent years. Innovations manifest not only in products but also their technologies. As anyone who visited Riga Food 2024 could plainly see, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian companies were not shy to boast their innovations, technologies and current food and beverage manufacturing trends at the Ķīpsala Expo Centre. Latvian Technological Centre’s Innovation Stand allowed visitors to discover and taste a range of new products like buckwheat crackers, edible bran dishes, sauerkraut crisps, colourful locally-grown oyster mushrooms, gluten-free sausages, vegan dumplings, wild garlic pesto, glacier drinking water and numerous other products.

Diverse event programme
Riga Food 2024 offered an unprecedented number of events on all three days. Events both for professionals and foodies. Almost 60 exciting and insightful events on the Riga Food main stage, GEMOSS stage, competition are in Pavilion 1, Riga Food guestroom and booths of exhibitors.

Best food products in the Baltics
The Baltic Taste Award 2024, the second Baltic food quality competition also took place during the biggest Baltic food industry trade fair Riga Food at the Ķīpsala International Expo Centre. Medals were decided between Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian manufacturers and their best products. International jury received 90 products in 11 categories. The highest recognition and the platinum medal was awarded to five products, 10 products received gold medals, while 12 entries proudly won silver medals, and bronze went to 14 products. The title of 2025 Baltic Product of the Year was awarded to Lāči Bakery for their seed bread “Bagatīgā” (Latvia), “Latgolys zīdu mads/Latgalian Silk Honey” by Līdumi Farm (Gunta Some, Latvia), ”KranŽi” Crunchy Organic Peanut Butter with Seasalt (Estonia), Bruk energy black garlic (Latvia) and Vapista rhubarb sparkling wine (dry) “Nudist Rabarbra Jubilee Dry” (Estonia). Winning products and competition jury composition available here.

Valuable discussions
Latvian Technology Centre and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) made sure that there are plenty of interesting food industry activities that focus on current trends. For three days Riga Food Main Stage became the epicentre of series of discussions titled Innovation Craze. Food industry experts gathered to discuss gluten-free food, environmental and social challenges faced by catering industry, design and sustainability of packaging, alternative protein sources, food waste and forgotten meals, as well as other relevant topics.

Sustainable packaging
To promote wider use of sustainable packaging, Packaging Association of Latvia and BT1 International Expo Company teamed up to create a new Riga Food 2024 tradition – Riga Food 2024 Sustainable Packaging competition. Industry professionals diligently evaluated packaging made by producers and surprised three exhibitors whose packaging was recognised as the most sustainable. This year the title was awarded to AUGU from Latvia for their packaging for artisan producers, EVADAY from Lithuania for their table textile packaging and Lviv Handmade Chocolate from Ukraine for their chocolate sweet packaging.

Cooking competitions
As per usual, most talented and bold chefs from all over Latvia flocked to Riga Food to show who is the best cook. This year’s competition and the title of the Best Latvian Chef 2024 and prestigious traveling prize Reaton Golden Ladle was presented to youngest chef in the competition Agate Batraga from restaurant Ferma. After a fierce fight, Dinārs Zvidriņš settled for the second, missing out on just a couple of points that decided the victory. And Renārs Purmalis, whom you can usually meet at various oyster-themed events, came in third. The title of Best Latvian Apprentice Chef 2024 was won by Dāvids Ivanovs, the other half of Dinārs Zvidriņš’ team and chef from Entresol. Cooking competition was organised by Chefs’ Club for whom this was the 20th anniversary year at the Riga Food as the professional association focusing on continuous development of culinary arts in Latvia from its inception.

Pastry chef competitions
For the first time ever Riga Food hosted the Latvian Restaurant Pastry Chef competition. Three brave pastry chefs – Anastasija Kazuļa (Mīkla Bakery), Jeļizaveta Kuzmina (restaurant Whitehouse) and Valērija Čudova (restaurant Ferma) – competed for the title, which eventually went to Jeļizaveta Kuzmina and her name will be engraved as first on the Lavazza Golden Cup travelling prize. She also won training trip with Valrhona.

Hospitality Star
Gemoss stage was this year’s arena for the Latvian Hospitality Star competition. Hospitality professionals competed across several disciplines, showing their hospitality knowledge and skills, while jury could enjoy high-class service. Artis Melbārdis from WHITEHOUSE won the title, receiving a unique apprenticeship at Michelin star restaurant where he will be able to bring his skills to an even higher level. Second was won by Lauris Rauza from Fabrikas restorāns and Ilze Bindere from John completed the winning line-up. Jury of the waiter competition at the Ķīpsala Expo Centre consisted of Gemoss owner and manager Ieva Treija, President of Latvian Restaurant Association Jānis Jenzis, Ferma manager Jānis Viļumovs, Whitehouse manager Inese Vīcupa, member of the board of Latvian Restaurant Association and professor Agita Kausa, Martandi owner Mārtiņš Rozenvalds and others.

Cake and cocktail competitions
Monin Cup Latvia 2024 was another of this year’s highlights on Gemoss stage. LOW is MORE was the moto of this year’s competition. The main prize – paid trip to prestigious Monin Cup finals in France – was decided between bartenders from all over Latvia. And, like last year, Emīls Lemkens came above everyone else.Visitors’ beloved cake competition Visitors’ beloved Generational Legacy received 28 submissions from pastry chefs all over Latvia who came up with ever more surprising tasting, looking and shaped cakes. Victory and Generational Legacy prize – whisker – travelled to Skrīveri where Agnese Rūtiņa makes her astonishing Nutty Caramel cake. Second place was awarded to Santa Āre from Valmiera region, the creator of “Mūsdienu virtulis/Modern donut” brand and cake “Pārsteigums/Surprise”, and Ieva Fišere’s chocolate cake completed the podium.

2025 will be the Riga Food 30th anniversary year
Next year international food, beverage, processing, technology, packaging, innovation, catering, hotel and retail equipment and service industry trade fair Riga Food will be a three-day event and will take place on 4-6 September 2025 at the Ķīpsala International Expo Centre, Riga.

Riga Food is organised by BT 1 International Expo Company.

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