WELLINGTON – Whether it’s a strong long black, a sultry double-shot espresso, a playful mocha, poignant single origin or a trusty, creamy flat white, New Zealanders are a nation of coffee lovers.Our café culture’s credentials are firmly established, with more than half of surveyed New Zealanders visiting cafes in a three month period, but New Zealand’s coffee industry is also enjoying significant growth in the home market, with sales of quality home coffee and machines spiking.
Recognising this growth and the exciting potential for the industry, the inaugural Caffeination New Zealand Festival of Coffee will be held 22-23 March 2014 at Wellington’s Shed 6.
Organised by Convention Management NZ (CMNZL), this is the first coffee industry expo to be endorsed by the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association.
The event aims to connect the traders, roasters and retailers with each other and the public, and provide an insight into the world of coffee from the tree to the roaster to the cup and all parts in between, says CMNZL’s Dean Bradley.
“Caffeination brings the world of coffee to Wellington,” says Dean. “It’s a forum for the industry to connect, grow our business and enhance the coffee experience for the roasters, retailers and public alike.
“But what’s really exciting is the opportunity to discover – to see the future of coffee through innovative products and services, to savour new tastes and varieties, and to enhance the enjoyment of the coffee experience.
“For many kiwis coffee is a magical part of the day – relaxing, reviving and refueling at the same time. Whether it’s a humble flat white quaffed on the run, crafting a cappuccino at home for friends, or searching out new single origin varieties, there’s a lot to explore.
“The industry continues to grow in New Zealand, we’re seeing great innovation in the home machine sector and even some great opportunities to expand into offshore markets. New Zealand coffee has a great story to tell and we’ll tell that story at Caffeination 2014.”
Held over two days at the newly-refurbished Shed 6 on Wellington’s Waterfront, Caffeination caters for trade and general public in equal measure.
Headlined by the ever-popular Huhtamaki New Zealand Barista Championships, Caffeination will feature a mix of public events, showcases, demonstrations, interactive displays and competitions to entertain crowds of thousands.
Details and events schedules will be released in coming weeks.
Interested stallholders, sponsors and partners are encouraged to visit www.caffeination.co.nz or contact CMNZL www.cmnzl.co.nz to register interest.
Source: press release
