News
Press conference for the review of the Western Greece Seafood campaign
On December 7, 2023, the Region of Western Greece held a press conference in Patras to review the outcomes of the Western Greece Seafood campaign. All collaborating bodies involved in promoting the valuable seafood products of Aitoloakarnania were present, namely the Region of Western Greece, the Chamber of Aitoloakarnania, the Agri-Food Partnership of the Region of Western Greece, and the University of Patras.
As presented during the press conference, the campaign concluded with outstanding success. The campaign participated in all planned exhibitions in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Events were organized for more than 125 professionals in Germany and Saudi Arabia. Social media platforms gathered over 10,000 followers, the campaign website received over 13,000 visits, and the overall online advertising reached over 7,500,000 in target markets. This intensive effort has already borne fruit, as the fine seafood products of Aitoloakarnania are making a strong entry into the global gastronomic map.
The Regional Governor of Western Greece, Mr. Nektarios Farmakis, the President of the Chamber of Aitoloakarnania, Mr. Panagiotis Tsichritzis, and the Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, Mr. Georgios Kehagias, were the keynote speakers. Representatives of the local press and of businesses involved in the production and processing of seafood products attended the event.
Saudi Horeca 2023 – Riyadh
The fifth and final stop of the Western Greece Seafood campaign was Riyadh and the Saudi Horeca exhibition. From November 27 to 29, 2023, a large number of professionals and opinion leaders visited the campaign’s booth to learn about the fine seafood products of the Region of Western Greece, and about the businesses that produce, process and trade them. The visitors also had the opportunity to taste delicacies prepared with raw material coming from the lagoons of Aitoloakarnania.
The exhibition attracted more than 34,000 visitors from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
In addition, on November 27, a promo event was organized at the luxury restaurant Billionaire, which was attended by journalists, government officials, importers, purchasers and HORECA professionals, as well as the Ambassador of Greece in Riyadh. The evening ended with a dinner that included a menu specially designed for the occasion by the restaurant’s chefs, based on the seafood products of Western Greece.
Press conference for the presentation of the Western Greece Seafood campaign
On November 8, 2023, the official presentation of the WESTERN GREECE SEAFOOD campaign took place at the conference hall of the Chamber of Aitoloakarnania. Τhe Region of Western Greece and the Chamber of Aitoloakarnania, the two bodies that jointly implement actions to promote the fine seafood products of Aitoloakarnania in the European and international markets, hosted the event. Through these actions, the valuable products produced and standardized in the broader region, that is, avgotaracho of Messolonghi, the salted fish of the Messolonghi lagoon, eel, atherina of Trichonida Lake and the shrimp of Amvrakikos Gulf, travel to major food exhibitions worldwide, in the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia, earning accolades as delicatessen goods.
The key speakers were the Regional Governor of Western Greece, Mr. Nektarios Farmakis, and the President of the Chamber of Aitoloakarnania, Mr. Panagiotis Tsichritzis, who outlined the strategic framework for the promotion of the local seafood products, and then a presentation of the implemented actions followed. Representatives of the local press and of businesses involved in the production and processing of seafood products attended the event.
ANUGA 2023 – Cologne
The Western Greece Seafood campaign could not miss ANUGA, the largest food exhibition on a global scale, which takes place in Cologne and is a point of reference for the international food and beverage industry. From October 7 to 11, 2023, at the campaign’s impressive booth, visitors to the exhibition had the chance to learn about the exceptional seafood products of the Region of Western Greece and also to taste fine recipes, curated by the chefs of the restaurant Toxotis, Dusseldorf.
This year’s edition of the exhibition was a great success. It brought traffic back to pre-covid levels, attracting more than 7,900 exhibitors from 118 countries and 140,000 visitors from 200 countries.
The Western Greece Seafood campaign concluded its successful participation in ANUGA 2023 with a special promo event at DELICATO restaurant/delicatessen, on 10/10/2023. More than 40 professionals from Europe and Third Countries attended a live cooking show, with the raw materials coming directly from the unique lagoons of Aitoloakarnania.
Gastvrij Rotterdam 2023
The next stop of the Western Greece Seafood campaign was Rotterdam, the Netherlands, taking part in the Gastvrij Rotterdam exhibition, one of the leading gastronomy exhibitions focusing on the HORECA sector. From September 18 to 20, 2023, professionals from three continents met the exceptional taste and high quality of the fishery products of the Region of Western Greece. A large number of visitors were not only informed about the gastronomic delights of Western Greece, but also tasted unique recipes from the chefs of the Greek restaurant Irodion, all based on the seafood of the Messolonghi lagoon.
The exhibition broke all attendance records, attracting more than 18,500 professionals and 500 exhibitors.
Seafood Expo Asia 2023 – Singapore
The Western Greece Seafood campaign continues its roadshow. After New York and the Summer Fancy Food Show 2023, the next stop was Singapore. From September 11 to 13, 2023, the fine fishery products of the Region of Western Greece attracted visitors to Seafood Expo Asia, the Asian edition of the world’s most important seafood exhibition, Seafood Expo. At the specially designed booth of the Western Greece Seafood campaign, visitors also had the opportunity to enjoy dishes that combined the seafood treasures of Western Greece with Asian cuisine.
More than 200 exhibitors from 31 countries participated in the exhibition, while more than 4,000 food service and seafood professionals from 70 countries visited it.
Summer Fancy Food Show 2023 - New York
The first stop of the Western Greece Seafood campaign was New York, where it participated in the Summer Fancy Food Show 2023, the most important and largest food and beverage exhibition in North America. The exhibition, which took place in New York from 25 to 27 June 2023, attracted more than 1,800 exhibitors from 27 countries and more than 21,000 visitors.
A large number of professionals visited the Western Greece Seafood Campaign’s booth to learn about the promoted products and to savor them in delicious bites, lovingly prepared by the campaign’s chef!
The Western Greece Seafood campaign aims to showcase and promote the fine fishery products that are produced and standardized in the Region of Western Greece, such as avgotaracho of Messolonghi, the shrimp of Amvrakikos gulf, the salted fish of the lagoon, atherina of Lake Trichonida and eel.