The Andalusian Regional Minister of Agriculture, Carmen Crespo, and the Mayor of Seville, José Luis Sanz, inaugurated the first edition of the Auténtica Premium Food Fest, a new benchmark event for the agri-food industry. More than 6,200 executives from large-scale distribution, the food industry and haute cuisine attended the event to assess the value of premium gourmet products from the Spanish food industry among experts.
Auténtica Premium Food Fest brought together leading firms such as LIDL, Carrefour, Grupo DIA, Covirán and UVESCO, among others, to analyse the challenges facing large-scale retail and how they are adapting to new consumer habits. For two days, 182 exhibitor companies, 204 experts and more than 5,000 professionals shared their knowledge to create an environment in which to discuss gourmet products and their origin.
Heineken, Almadraba, Picking Market, Trops, Cooperativas agro-alimentarias de Andalucía and Makro are just some of the exhibiting firms that participated and presented the latest premium-gourmet products. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a new participant, the presentation of Gusto del Sur, the Junta de Andalucía’s food brand distinguished for its differentiated quality products.
This event focused on gastronomy and the food industry has managed to bring together important Michelin star chefs and more than 200 professionals. All with one aim: to share dialogues and opinions on the origin and quality of the food products found in Seville and Andalusia. The main objective of this meeting has been to raise social awareness through food and drink, which has had an economic impact of more than 11 million euros for the city.
The Auténtica congress has hosted 80 sessions and 25 tastings to emphasise the quality of Spanish gastronomic products. Gazpacho and potato omelette are some of our most famous dishes worldwide. And this is what Juan Carlos García, the chef of the Vandelvira restaurant, pointed out during these days, reminding us that the real luxury lies in being able to enjoy these classics that take us back to our childhood and our origins.
The foods and recipes that make up the famous Mediterranean diet, which characterises the typical dishes of our gastronomy, also bear the stamp of innovation. The 5 Michelin-starred chef, Paco Pérez, shared his vision on this day, in which he affirms a transformation of food through innovative techniques to create new dishes.
The gastronomic offer is changing and giving way to innovative products and recipes thanks to research and new market requirements, in which there is room for all kinds of demands. Marta Miguel Castro, Scientific Researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, talks about the green revolution. The vegan and vegetarian population is on the rise, and the food supply must be transformed to adapt to all consumer demands.
During these two days, specialists have placed special emphasis on the fact that consumers have changed, and also their way of consuming products. This was explained by Bernardo Rodilla, Retail Director at Kantar, who confirmed that “we are what we eat, and these changes in our routines explain the shopping baskets”. Times are changing due to technological advances, and this is affecting us directly. Beatriz Romanos, VC Analyst at Techfood Magazine, points out that consumers are increasingly aware, informed and interested in the nutritional value of food, as well as in environmental sustainability.
All of this is leading to an increase in competitiveness in the market, according to Rebeca Mella, Consumer Director at Kantar, who states that consumers are increasingly demanding that they adapt to each moment. Professionals talk about the importance of basing ourselves on health, flavour and sustainability to connect with today’s consumer. Organic ranges and organic products are increasingly in demand and the order of the day.
The day also saw the recognition of the milestone achieved by the Seville School of Hotel and Catering, which celebrates thirty years of training leaders and masters of gastronomy and hospitality. More than 35,500 students from more than 22 countries have taken the Seville, Andalusia and Spain brand around the world. The academy has been recognised on three occasions as European School of the Year, and has been distinguished with the National Hospitality Award for Training Work, the Andalucía Joven Award for Promotion Abroad, and the Medal of the City of Seville.
