The 1st South African Cheese Festival was held at Bien Donné under the Agri-Expo flag for the three days of 26 to 28 April. 12 000 people arrived to inspect the newcomer on the gourmet scene. The Festival boasted a Cheese Emporium, Gourmet Lane, Celebrity Chefs’ Kitchen and Kiddies Corner.
view gallery20 000 people visited the Festival which was now held over 4 days. The Emporium and Gourmet Lane were doubled in size, 19 illustrious chefs participated in the kitchen and the Milk Factory was added.
view galleryThe Festival boasted a new identity and logo and 22 000 people came to taste and enjoy. The visitor numbers were monitored to improve the flow of people and to enable the small cheese makers to cope better with the number of tasters. The width of the passages in the Emporium was doubled; a Cheese Market and Market Square with 26 exhibitors were introduced; the Gourmet lane now housed 31 top restaurants and wine cellars and the Milk Factory and Kiddies Corner were enlarged. A Cheese Workshop was added, housing 150 visitors at a sitting, for six sessions per day.
view galleryStill the Festival grew and drew more than 26 500 visitors. Due to the overwhelming interest in the festival the organisers took several precautionary measures to ensure a pleasant experience for every festival goer. The Absa Cheese Workshop was expanded and sponsors and media representatives were treated in the Simonsig VIP tent.
view galleryAgri-Expo found the winning recipe: a good balance between happy exhibitors and number of visitors. The media embraced the Festival and gave exposure worth R19,5 million. Two new additions, The Mall and the Fair Cape Alfresco Corner, with fresh milk and entertainment for the youngsters, gave visitors a still wider scope of enjoyment.
view galleryThe judges were as happy as the 26 000 visitors (despite pouring rain on the first two days)! The Festival received the EXSA award for "best exhibition for trade and consumer in Southern Africa in the category 12 001m2 and over". Visitors had more than 400 different cheeses to choose from and the Absa Cheese and Wine Route replaced the Workshop.
view gallerySize does matter! This one was the biggest festival in the seven years of its existence in all respects: number of visitors, number of exhibitors as well as the utilisation of the extended space at the venue. Checkers came on board as the new main sponsor and kept their advertising promise by bringing a ‘World of Cheese' to the Festival dished up by outstanding chefs and celebrities. No less than 48 demonstrations kept packed audiences riveted in the Surepure Cooking Pot and Absa Cheese and Wine theatre.
view galleryThe strict limitation on attendance numbers and the fact that no tickets were sold at the gates, enhanced the enjoyment of the public. Despite rain on Saturday, the festival drew almost 29 000 visitors and on three days tickets were sold out (8 000 visitors are allowed per day). The festival had the most exhibitors ever, the most new small cheeseries and a record number of tasty related products. The fun menu for the young ones also grew to include entertainment with favourite cartoon characters, music and games. And the cherry on top: the Festival was once again named the “best exhibition for trade and consumer in Southern Africa in the category 12 001m² and over” by EXSA.
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