International Cheese Tours, Loire Valley

The second edition of the International Cheese Tours, Loire Valley, will be back in Tours from the 7^th to the 9^th of June and will be hosted at the VINCI International Congress Center. It’s the international rendezvous for professionals in the dairy sector.

With more than 100 exhibitors and 2,000 delegates, the 1st edition of The International Cheese Tours Loire Valley was a success and quickly became the leading industry trade fair for professionals. Its mission is to inform and showcase the latest products and innovations in order to develop business and partnerships in France and abroad.

The trade show is renowned for bringing together the top-tier entrepreneurs of the cheese and dairy industry. This year again, Tours événements will rely on the skills and experience of its expert, Rodolphe Le Meunier (Best Cheesemonger of France in 2007 and World’s Best Cheesemonger at the International Caseus Award), and on the partnership of key players such as “la Guilde Internationale des Fromagers”, “Profession Fromager”, and other institutional partners. Moreover, International Cheese Tours, Loire Valley, is just the right size to promote collaborations between the industry leaders and facilitate exchanges between clients, prospects and future partners in a friendly atmosphere. Exhibitors and visitors can strengthen their professional relationships in France and abroad.

With the attendance of exhibitors from Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States and Japan, International Cheese Tours Loire Valley can be defined as a global exhibition. The participation of buyers of the retail sector, as well as exhibitors, showcasing new products and innovations in all areas of the industry, will offer delegates a diverse offer to explore. The International Cheese Tours, Loire Valley, can also boast of an international image with a global audience from Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. For the 2015th edition, more than 75 exhibitors from 7 countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, and Switzerland) have already registered.

Europe is a global market leader in cheese exports and holds 62% of market share in the United States. France has 700 processing plants which employ almost 60,000 people. The cheese industry is thriving with 1,400 producers, nearly 500 cooperative or private processors and over 150 refiners. *

The World Contest of the Best Cheesemonger is organised by Tours événements in collaboration with the Contest's Organising Committee and Rodolphe Le Meunier. It will be one of the highlights of the event. 2015 will see numerous competitors ready to compete for the prestigious award in front of a passionate, attentive and appreciative audience. Precise gestures, harmonious compositions, bold presentations and expertise will be the key words throughout the tests. In 2013, 10 candidates from 6 countries participated in the contest, and the winner was Miyuki Murase, from Japan closely followed by Pascal Fauville and Nathalie Vanhaver, both from Belgium.

The International Cheese Tours Loire Valley will also host the International “Products“ Contest 2015. A flagship event of the exhibition, highly awaited by the professionals, this Contest offers them the opportunity to show their know-how, their respect for traditions, their strive for quality but also creativity and innovation. In 2013, over 200 cheese and dairy products were represented and subjected to the votes of 80 professional judges. 48 cheese and dairy products were awarded. The International Products Contest is open exclusively to exhibitors at the show. Each competitor may submit one or more products in one or more categories. For more information visit www.cheese-tours.com.