2010 SA CHEESE FESTIVAL A ROARING SUCCESS

Thousands of cheese lovers from far and wide celebrated the good life at the 2010 SA Cheese Festival over the weekend.

The tempo of ticket sales during the week leading up to the festival was, according to the festival director, Johan Ehlers, one of the first indications that this year's festival would again be a raging success despite the difficult economical situation the consumer finds himself in. "Record ticket sales prior to the festival and actual attendance figures exceeded all expectations," says Ehlers.

The festival kicked off with a bang on Saturday 24 April and kept its momentum until the very end of this four day event. Highlights included the quirks and culinary skills of celebrities such as Nataniël, Soli Philander, Diaan Lawrence and Jody Abrahams who drew capacity crowds to the Checkers Theatre and Cooking Pot, the 200 000th visitor, the wide variety of sumptuous cheeses, creative related products as well as a fun filled programme of events and entertainment for young and old.

According to Ehlers part of the success of the SA Cheese Festival, which boasts two awards* as the country's best, rests on the limiting of visitor numbers per day.

Marc's Mediterranean Cuisine won the award for the best stall in the Gourmet Lane for the 5th year in a row. Marc feels that the festival is really well organised and was positive about the support from the public despite increased competition in the Gourmet Lane.

Mannamakers and Fleckvieh's exhibition skills secured awards for the second year in the categories for cheese related products and the Milk Factory. Other stalls that received praise were Simonsberg for the best national cheese stall and Foxenburg for the best Boutique Cheese stall.

Exhibitors, participants and visitors unanimously agree that the SA Cheese Festival - now in its 9th year - is still going from strength to strength. Ms Jacoba Budden from the justfoodnow website believes that the festival is on par with the world's best.

The organisers invite cheese lovers to enjoy the SA Cheese Festival's 10th anniversary from 29 April to 2 May 2011.

*Note: In 2009 and 2007 the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) lauded the SA Cheese Festival as the best exhibition of the year in the trade and consumer category for events larger than 12 000 sq m.

Issued by Marlene Truter Communications
Contact: Marlene Truter
tel 083 294 6060
marlene@marlenetruter.co.za

On behalf of Agri-Expo
Contact: Mariana Rabie
tel 021 975 4440 / 082 871 1114
mariana@agriexpo.co.za