Cyprus halloumi showcased at New York ‘fancy foods’ exhibition

With two stands, Cyprus is participating in the ‘Fancy Food Show’ international exhibition in New York to showcase halloumi.

The opportunity is part of an EU-sponsored programmes, ‘EU Delicious’ and ‘Cheese U’, and helps Cypriot companies promote halloumi on international markets.

The Panagrotiki farmers association is one of the organisers. It’s general-secretary Tassos Papanis told the Cyprus News Agency the programme was a great success.

“Charalambides Christis, the largest dairy company in Cyprus, which exports 40 per cent of halloumi to 35 countries, and the regional factory Halloumas are participating,” he said.

Stefanos Alonevtis, export manager of Charalambides Christis, said the company has had a presence in America for more than 30 years.

Total exports of halloumi to the US reach about 1000 tonnes per year.

“Our company has a turnover of about €140 million, of which €55 million relates to exports, with the most important markets being England, Germany, America and Australia,” Aloneftis said.

The second European program, ‘Cheese U’, includes the promotion of products mainly from European countries.

The halloumi production company Somis is participating in this part of the exhibition in a booth with a company from Bulgaria that promotes Bulgarian cheeses.

Evagoras Fiakkou, general manager of Somis told CNA his company was looking at making organic halloumi. It already produces kosher halloumi for the Jewish market. And lactose-free halloumi.

“The first time we participated in the programme was in Australia in September 2022. The second time at an exhibition in New Jersey in November and the third is now in New York. We have participated in exhibitions in Las Vegas and in Brazil where it is a big and many promising market. The company’s next target is Brazil,” he said.

“People have learned about halloumi and have included it in their diet,” he added.

“Halloumi is the number one export food by far. Half of halloumi is exported to the Scandinavian countries. Of the 6,000 tonnes in total that go annually to Sweden from Cyprus, 3,000 comes from us.”

The New York exhibition opened on Sunday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in Manhattan and will remain open until Tuesday. It features 1,200 exhibitors from the US and 35 countries presenting the latest developments in the food and beverage sector.