In what may well be the biggest 30^th birthday celebration that Melbourne has ever seen, Fine Food Australia celebrated the milestone with over 27,600 people.

Across the four-day event held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, record numbers of both visitors and exhibitors attended the country’s largest food trade exhibition, demonstrating its ongoing relevance to the industry.

Event Director, Minnie Constan says, "We are thrilled that Melbourne has welcomed Fine Food Australia back with such enthusiasm! Record numbers has allowed a great deal of business to take place on the show floor, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike. Our international exhibitors now account for one third of the show floor, which is a great reflection of the country’s love affair with international food trends. Similarly the great presence of local suppliers is representative of our country’s passion for fresh, local produce, and both aspects of the event are a nod to the ongoing evolution of this show to reflect industry needs and demands."

The show floor was a hotbed of activity from business meetings to Q&A sessions with industry figureheads, and pizza acrobatics to chocolate centerpiece awards. Famous faces were in abundance, with celebrities of the food world including George Calombaris and Miguel Maestro, plus sporting stars Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and sports journalist Tony Jones, spotted around the show.

Fine Food Australia is the country’s largest and most relevant food and hospitality event, showcasing everything from specialty and bulk foods, beverages, cooking and hospitality equipment and machinery, to bakery products, coffee and emerging food trends. The business benefits of attending include one on one sessions with industry leaders, educational master classes, demonstrations, and competitions throughout, as well as the opportunity to build relationships, drive business, and be inspired about the industry.

2015 will see the return of the event to Sydney from 20-23 September at the Sydney Olympic Park.