LONDON, October 2026 — Cyprus showcased halloumi, zivania and wines at the first London Food & Drink Festival. Organisers staged the two-day trade event at ExCeL London on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September 2026.
The Cyprus Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry took part through the Cyprus Trade Centre in London. Together, they ran an information stand at the London Food & Drink Festival. According to the ministry, the stand formed part of its push to promote Cypriot products in the UK.
Cyprus at the London Food & Drink Festival
A wide range of traditional and contemporary Cypriot products featured on the stand, the ministry said. Alongside halloumi and other dairy products, there were cured meats, bakery goods, loukoumi, honey and wines. Zivania and other spirits also featured, as well as juices, trahanas, nuts, spoon sweets, carob syrup and rose products.
Guests could also discover and taste Cypriot food and drink at the stand. In addition, the stand’s chef prepared special dishes and creations for visitors. These gave guests a taste of the richness and diversity of Cypriot gastronomy, the ministry said.
During the two-day London Food & Drink Festival, the team handed out information material on all the products. It also distributed recipes and the Gastronomical Map of Cyprus.
Based in London, the Cyprus Trade Centre is the trade arm of the High Commission in the UK. The High Commission lists Costas Dafos as head of the centre. Previously, Greek City Times reported that Cyprus had approved a new trade centre in Mumbai in September.
Halloumi, zivania and carob syrup on show
Halloumi topped the ministry’s list of Cypriot products on the stand. Since 1 October 2021, only halloumi made in Cyprus to the traditional recipe can use the name in the EU. The Trade Service sets this out on its official halloumi website.
Earlier, the European Commission registered “Χαλλούμι (Halloumi)/Hellim” as a Protected Designation of Origin on 12 April 2021.
PDO halloumi is also one of the leading Cypriot products for export. In the first half of 2025, its exports reached €201.1 million, or 11.1% of total exports. The Cyprus Cheesemakers Association gave those figures, as Greek City Times reported in November 2025.
Several other Cypriot products on the stand appear in the Gastronomical Map, which the Department of Agriculture publishes. For instance, the map describes carob honey as viscous, with a deep-red colour. Producers make it from carobs, the so-called “black gold of Cyprus”.
Similarly, the map lists trahanas, a dried fermented product of sour sheep or goat milk and wheat. It also notes that Glyko Triantafyllo Agrou, a rose spoon sweet, gained PDO status in 2016.
Cured meats, another group of Cypriot products on show, also appear in the map. Its entries include Hiromeri Pitsilias, which has held Protected Geographical Indication status since 8 October 2020. Lountza Pitsilias followed on 10 February 2021.
Five shows under one roof at ExCeL
The London Food & Drink Festival made its debut in 2026, bringing five separate exhibitions together. According to the ministry, it became one of the largest food and drink events in the UK.
Overall, about 600 exhibitors took part in the London Food & Drink Festival. The event drew more than 15,000 industry professionals from the UK and overseas, the ministry said.
Its five shows were lunch!, The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show, London Drinks Exchange, Natural & Organic Food Show and Artisan Food & Drink Show, organisers said. Before the event, they said one free trade ticket would cover all five shows for professionals who registered in advance.
Organisers also promised more than 200 speakers across eight stages, including the new CHEF LIVE Stage. Chris Brazier, Group Event Director of the London Food & Drink Festival, pointed to changes across the industry. He said “the lines between sectors are becoming more blurred, with many companies operating across sectors”.
Cypriot gastronomy beyond the British market
The London Food & Drink Festival was one stop in a busy run of trade fairs for the ministry. In early September, it joined the Cyprus Trade Centre in Beijing at SIAL Guangzhou 2026, held from 3 to 5 September. Visitors there could learn about Cypriot products such as wine, commandaria, zivania and juices, the ministry said.
Next on the calendar is SIAL Paris 2026, which runs from 17 to 21 October at Paris Nord Villepinte. There, 28 Cypriot companies will present their products at two Cyprus stands. One stand covers grocery and multi-products, while the other focuses on dairy.
Finally, the ministry said the London Food & Drink Festival gave Cyprus an important chance to promote its gastronomic tradition. It also helped strengthen the recognition and presence of quality Cypriot products in the British market, the ministry said.
Source: Cyprus Trade Service
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