WorldFood Moscow

The 34th edition of WorldFood Moscow, held from September 16 to 19, 2025, was successfully hosted at the Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center in Moscow. Organized by ITE Group, this year’s event marked the exhibition’s 34th anniversary and stood as the most significant annual trade fair for the food industry in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Exhibition Space and Exhibitor Numbers Reach New Heights. This year’s show brought together 1,100 exhibiting companies from 31 countries, including Algeria, Belarus, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, Vietnam, Greece, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Ecuador. Russian exhibitors hailed from over 60 regions, with more than 150 new participants making their debut—comprising 110 domestic firms and 40 international enterprises. The event attracted a total of 26,328 professional visitors from 81 Russian regions and 81 countries worldwide, all eager to source products on-site.

Chinese Exhibitors Show Strong Presence. Chinese food industry companies showcased an extensive portfolio of premium products, including baking powders, flavoring powders, bread improvers, custard powders, and instant beverages. Employing a dual‑pronged strategy of “star products plus customized services,” they secured letters of intent and initial purchase orders with numerous Russian and neighboring‑country buyers, covering core items such as baking powders and flavoring powders, thereby marking a decisive breakthrough into the Eastern European market. Since 2001, China has maintained a consistent presence at the fair, with its traditional decorative style now becoming a signature feature of the exhibition.

Vietnamese Delegation Emerges as an International Highlight. Vietnam participated with 65 companies occupying a 366-square-meter exhibit space, presenting coffee, cashews, rice, pepper, confectionery, fresh fruits, processed fruit products, and a wide array of organic foods. Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia, Dang Minh Khue, attended the opening ceremony. Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, Hoang Minh Chien, emphasized that this participation represents a strategic move to promote Vietnamese brands and penetrate the Russian market. Vissan, a leading Vietnamese food producer, noted positive reception for ready‑to‑eat meals and spring rolls in Russia. The Vietnamese pavilion also concluded several memoranda of understanding, with frozen fruits and cashews already entering major retail chains in Moscow.

Diverse Highlights Cover the Entire Food Value Chain. The exhibition featured 16 specialized zones, spanning dry goods, confectionery and bakery products, organic and health foods, fruits and vegetables, non‑alcoholic beverages, tea and coffee, food ingredients, frozen products, canned goods, oils and sauces, halal foods, dairy and cheese products, fish and seafood, meat, poultry, and egg products, alcoholic beverages, as well as non‑food products and services. Among these, the fruit and vegetable zone—held during peak harvest season—was the largest of its kind in Eurasia.

Rich Concurrent Program. The business program included over 50 events, bringing together more than 150 industry leaders, retail representatives, chain executives, major distributors, and catering professionals as speakers. Four main venues hosted simultaneous sessions, featuring highlights such as “WorldFood Kitchen” and “Cooking Marathon” showcasing cutting-edge culinary trends; “Retail Academy” aligning with large‑chain procurement requirements; and the “Catering Professionals Conference” focusing on service channels. Concurrently, the “Best Product of the Year” tasting competition and the “World Organic Food” contest offered enterprises authoritative certification opportunities.

Strong Reactions from Exhibitors and Industry Participants. Chinese exhibitors from layersheng expressed that their booths had become vibrant hubs connecting resources across Eurasian food industries, forging preliminary cooperation agreements with potential partners in Europe, Central Asia, and beyond—covering areas such as product R&D, supply chain optimization, and market promotion. Representatives of Vietnamese companies reported receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly for ready‑to‑eat products, which have captured attention from Asian and European restaurants and distributors. Meanwhile, Magnit, a major Russian retailer, stated that it is systematically seeking Chinese suppliers. Attendees unanimously agreed that WorldFood Moscow, as the most influential specialized food fair in Eastern Europe, has evolved into a strategic platform for companies to showcase products, engage with customers, gain insights into emerging trends, and expand their reach into Russia and the broader Eurasian market.

Market Context and Industry Outlook. Russia’s annual food import value exceeds tens of billions of dollars, with continued high dependency on imports of fruits, vegetables, nuts, tea, coffee, seasonings, and various processed foods. The Vietnam–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement has created tariff advantages for Vietnamese agricultural exports. Bilateral trade between China and Russia continues to grow, with bilateral trade reaching US$2.89 billion in the first seven months of 2025—a 5.44% year-on-year increase. The next edition of the fair is scheduled for September 15–18, 2026, at the Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center in Moscow.