Winners of the UAE Barista Championship and UAE Latte Art Championship announced
December 9, 2014
The International Coffee & Tea Festival (ICTF), the only dedicated trade event for the coffee and tea industry in the Middle East, recently concluded on a successful note with over 7,100 trade visitors attending the 6th edition of the annual show. Buyers commended the quality of the specialized event which showcased exhibitors from around the world and a display of unique products specifically for the service of coffee and tea. Exhibitors were delighted with the opportunity to meet with potential clients and show-off their brands while generating sales leads from buyers across the region.
Ryan Godinho, UAE’s National Liaison for World Coffee Events and Special Events Coordinator (Training & Championships) at the ICTF, said, “For centuries, coffee and tea have been very popular beverages in the Arab World. The success of the International Coffee and Tea Festival is a reflection of the revival of this tradition, and the rapidly growing cafe business. ICTF has been a key player in driving the country’s coffee and tea industry by offering businesses a dedicated and unique platform to showcase their products and network with the industry”.
Every Exhibitor at ICTF 2014 was extremely happy with the visitor turn-out. Exhibitors were able to showcase their products, which included a variety of specialty coffees and teas, coffee roasting equipment, coffee machines, mixers, grinders, brewers and other café related products to the large numbers of trade visitors who attended the show.
Talking about her experience at ICTF, Steph Goldie, Brand Manager, DaVinci Gourmet, said: “Our company is relatively new to the market and we participated at ICTF to enhance our brand presence in the GCC by reaching out to a regional and global audience. We are happy to say that we achieved our goals and were extremely delighted to have had the opportunity to have met with people from all around the world.”
The 2014 UAE Barista Championship and UAE Latte Art Championship, two integral features of ICTF, were held during the 3-day show. Dmitriy Griekhov of Café Rider, through his excellent barista skills triumphed to achieve the coveted title of ‘2014 UAE Barista Champion’ and he will go on to represent UAE at the World Barista Championship 2015 at Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, from 9th to 12th April 2015. The ‘2014 UAE Latte Art Championship’ title was awarded to Frederick Bejo of Al Qubaisi Group, after an awesome display of skill in the Latte Art Category..
Brian Laliberte, Chief Operating Officer, Green Beans Coffee, commented on the overall positive effect of the show. He said: “Our participation at ICTF 2014 was beneficial for us in many ways. With the right people attending the show, it provided us with proper brand exposure and new franchise opportunities which has supported our plans of setting up a regional operation in the region. The number of visitors who attended the show this year exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to building on this participation next year.”
“ICTF has definitely carved a niche for itself in UAE’s annual calendar of events for being the only event of its kind in the region and it continues to grow year on year. Several exhibitors who have been part of the show since its inception have confirmed their presence at ICTF 2015 as a validation of their support for the growing coffee, tea and café industry in the Middle East. The next year’s edition from 11th to 13th November 2015 will include a larger exhibition, new products and added features to enhance the overall visitor experience to the event”, concluded Ryan Godinho.