MEDIA RELEASE

Immediate release Thursday, 7 March 2013

AUSTRALIAS FIRST INTERNATIONAL COFFEE ROASTING COMPETITON ANNOUNCED

Melbournes undisputed reputation as the coffee capital will be strengthened as the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) launches Australias first international coffee roasting competition in the lead up to the 2013 Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) and World Barista Championships. Entries for the inaugural Australian International Coffee Awards (AICA) will open on Tuesday, 2 April, with judging conducted from Tuesday, 7 to Thursday, 9 May at Melbourne Showgrounds. Following the success of the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards coffee competition, the RASV has created a stand-alone event open to both local and international coffee roasters and held as part of MICE2013. RASV CEO Mr Mark OSullivan said, The RASV is pleased to invite local and international entries into the new AICA, building on the success of the coffee category of the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards. Melbourne is renowned for its world class coffee and the AICA will award excellence in roasted coffee blends from around the world and provide trophy and medal winners with unique marketing opportunities, Mr OSullivan said. Entries to the Australian International Coffee Awards close on Wednesday, 24 April and winners will be announced on Thursday, 23 May. MICE2013 will be held from Thursday, 23 to Sunday, 26 May at Melbourne Showgrounds and is Australias largest dedicated coffee trade show. [ENDS] For all media enquiries, please contact Wrights on behalf of the RASV (03 9690 9911): Jess Jafer of Wrights for RASV, +61 403 042 855 / jjafer@wrights.com.au Lynne Hills of Wrights for RASV, +61 405 277 562 / lhills@wrights.com.au