Kazakhstan: Unlocking the Potential of the European Gourmet Market

Kazakhstan’s gourmet market offers considerable room for growth for European producers. Identifying this untapped potential and turning it into tangible commercial opportunities has been at the heart of ACIR Southern Europe’s recent work in Almaty.

Eduard Gulián, President of ACIR Southern Europe, held a series of working meetings with distributors, commercial operators and representatives of the gourmet sector. The visit also provided an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the specific features of the local market, its business dynamics and the prospects for expanding the presence of European products.

According to Eduard Gulián, the Kazakh market currently represents only around 10% of the actual potential of Europe’s gourmet export offering. This gap points to significant opportunities for development, while highlighting the importance of a market-entry strategy tailored to local conditions.

ACIR’s active presence in the region is focused on two complementary objectives: consolidating the position of the brands with which it already works in the market and facilitating the entry of new European companies and products. Direct market knowledge and close cooperation with local operators are essential to advancing both objectives.

The next stage is already taking shape. In the coming days, ACIR will work to formalise new areas of cooperation through the signing of agreements in Kazakhstan. These steps are intended to turn the contacts and opportunities identified in Almaty into lasting business relationships and new routes to market for European gourmet products.