Europe’s exquisite food show: SIRHA Budapest Exhibition on the horizon

On the 5th of March, Central and Eastern Europe’s paramount international food show and HoReCa trade fair will open its doors. SIRHA Budapest, now in its sixth iteration, extends a warm invitation to professionals worldwide at the esteemed HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre.

In recent years, economic challenges, such as shifts in energy and raw material prices, have prompted businesses to prioritise efficiency and sustainability. Addressing these issues, SIRHA Budapest, an international food show, fosters discussions and shares innovations in energy efficiency. It serves as a hub for industry professionals to engage in forums, culinary competitions, and networking operations. With 24,000 attendees and 376 exhibitors, half of whom are international, the Hungarian food show is a vital platform for navigating market trends and fostering international collaboration, as reported by trademagazin.hu. The main professional partner of the exhibition is METRO, and Trade Magazin is the main media sponsor.

Centre of attention : ice cream

The SIRHA Budapest exhibition places a special emphasis on promoting ice cream craftsmanship, with this year’s event centred on the Gelato Square, a unique venue exclusively dedicated to artisanal ice cream. Notably, Hungary hosts its first-ever ice cream show of this magnitude, catering to both domestic and international professionals. From 2022 to 2025, the Gelato Festival World Master – Hungary Challenge will search the globe for the finest ice cream, culminating in a Hungarian Final in Bologna. Additionally, the food show features the “Ice Cream Adventure 2024” competition for confectionery students and showcases new ice cream ingredients through tastings. Furthermore, it hosts Hungary’s Cake competition and the János Pataki Memorial Competition, highlighting creativity and skill among students and adults alike.

Public Catering at the food show

SIRHA Budapest 2024 adopts sustainability as its central theme, aligning with the philosophy of the National Association of Public Caterers and Food Service Managers. The 2023-2024 public catering cook-off hosted at the exhibition echoes this focus on sustainability, aiming to enhance catering quality and foster a dining-out culture. Following October’s semi-finals, 12 teams of four have advanced to the final, scheduled for 5th to 7th March, featuring both professional programming and public access during exhibition hours. Each day, four teams will compete, showcasing their culinary skills and adherence to various criteria such as food preparation technology, teamwork and ingredient efficiency. The public can sample the dishes, participate in a Mentimeter programme to vote for their favourites and engage in a panel discussion with interactive elements.