Summary of the Visit to the ARTOZA Exhibition – Athens, February 22-24, 2025 – Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce Delegation

The following is a report on the visit of the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce delegation to the ARTOZA international exhibition in Greece, the leading regional exhibition for the bakery, ice cream, coffee, chocolate, baking and pastry industry machinery, and raw materials. The visit was made at the invitation of the exhibition organizers, FORUM SA.

🔗 Exhibition Website: https://www.artoza.com/en
🔗 Exhibition Highlights: ARTOZA 2025 - Record Attendance with 25,477 Professionals

Business Meetings and Key Focus Areas
The visit and business meetings primarily focused on the bakery, pastry, ice cream, chocolate, and beverage industries, with an emphasis on networking with exhibitors and exploring business collaborations.

In these challenging times, while maintaining a positive outward appearance, our hearts remain heavy. Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead with the trip and use our presence for advocacy efforts. This was the first time that the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce organized a delegation to this biennial exhibition.

I must highlight the empathy and efforts of the organizers in ensuring our security, addressing our needs, and emphasizing our presence. Delegation members, as well as participants from other countries, were hosted at the BUYERS HOSTED area.

The Chamber’s management team worked diligently to coordinate meetings in close collaboration with the visit coordinator from FORUM SA. The delegation included first-time visitors to this exhibition, all experiencing their first professional trip under the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce.

Delegation Members:
Aryeh Adler – Consultant & Project Manager in the Restaurant & Food Industry
Roni Kedar – Partner at Lahmanina
Mazali Dush – Partner at Lahmanina
Naifa Moula – Chef, creator, and owner of Naifa restaurant
Jacky Hazan – Consultant for food and bakery companies, VP at Hashlosha, and President of the Israeli Chefs Association
Sharon Yeritz – Restaurateur, owner of Petrosila and catering services
Kobi Biton – CEO of the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce
Support and Hospitality
We received remarkable support and understanding from the organizers, exhibitors, and businesspeople in general. We were pleased to experience a welcoming atmosphere throughout the intense two-day exhibition and our visit to Athens.

As part of the matchmaking meetings, the delegation and Chamber management met with 78 exhibitors and had 6 additional spontaneous meetings requested by visitors who wanted to meet us as Chamber representatives. We also invited business contacts from Greece for meetings.

The Chamber assisted delegation members in establishing business connections with exhibitors—both through personal introductions and by arranging meetings.

We also held a working meeting with FORUM SA’s management team to discuss ongoing collaboration and preparations for FOODEXPO Athens (March 2025) and GLOBALPACK & XENIA (November 2025).

Trip Logistics & Sponsorship
The visit was funded by FORUM SA, which covered:
✔️ Flight tickets
✔️ 2 nights at President Hotel, Athens
✔️ Organized transportation
✔️ Refreshments and beverages during the exhibition
✔️ A dedicated room for storing bags

Delegation members covered a participation fee, which included, among other things, a group dinner. Summarizing the experience, every single participant agreed:
"A great choice, an enjoyable atmosphere, an exceptional group, delicious and inviting!"

I must emphasize the camaraderie among delegation members, their appreciation for the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce, and the positive surprises that exceeded expectations.

Special Event: Group Dinner
The Chamber organized a group dinner for delegation members and guests on Saturday night, February 22, at Mironi Restaurant in Athens.
🔗 Restaurant Details: Mironi Greek Restaurant – Tripadvisor

Visit Summary in Numbers:
📌 2 full days at the exhibition (Saturday & Sunday) – Arrival Friday night, departure Monday morning
📌 7 delegation members
📌 1 working meeting with exhibition organizers
📌 78 B2B matchmaking meetings
📌 6 additional guests (Chamber members & partners in Greece)
📌 6 meetings with external business contacts
📌 1 group dinner for all participants

Reflections from Delegation Members
Roni Kedar, Partner, Lahmanina:
"Kobi, thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in a Greek bakery exhibition. It was fascinating, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Hopefully, this will lead to new collaborations. Thank you for all the hospitality and attention!"

Mazali Dush, Partner, Lahmanina:
"Thank you, Kobi. It was incredibly interesting and insightful to visit the exhibition. I appreciate the opportunity and the professional hospitality. Looking forward to future collaborations!"

Sharon Yeritz, Petrosila:
"Dear group, I just want to say that this was short and sweet. It was a pleasure meeting everyone, and a big thank you to Kobi for the excellent organization."

Naifa Moula, Chef & Pastry Specialist, Naifa:
"Kobi, it was amazing! Thank you for the professional and pleasant guidance! I truly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next time!"

Upcoming Delegation Opportunities
For more details about this visit and future delegations:
📌 FOODEXPO – March 2025
📌 BEYOND – April 2025
📌 Real Estate Expo – May 2025

📩 Contact us at: Chamber@israelgreece.com

This visit is another step in the ongoing activities of the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce to foster continuous business engagement—even during challenging times. We strive to strengthen relationships, create new initiatives, and assist Chamber members and businesspeople in advancing their interests within the Israeli-Greek market.

Until next time… in blue & white!
Report by:
📌 Kobi Biton
CEO, Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce