"Honey bread" at the Department Store stand of the National Centre RUSSIA: how Pokrov gingerbread became a highlight of INNOPROM 2025

At the INNOPROM 2025 International Industrial Exposition in Yekaterinburg, the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA showcased products from regional manufacturers, seamlessly combining traditional artisanal techniques with modern production solutions.

This platform provided Russian enterprises with effective opportunities to enter international markets, demonstrating how innovative methods and materials can give new life to historic production traditions.

Vladimir Region

The Vladimir region presented several categories of historically rooted products to the guests of the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA. Among them, Pokrov gingerbread proved especially popular — crafted using old recipes with boiled condensed milk and walnuts. In Ancient Rus', this kind of gingerbread was called "honey bread." The production of Pokrov gingerbread flourished in the Vladimir region during the 18th and 19th centuries. Craftspeople followed a unique recipe, the secrets of which were passed down through generations.

The distinctive feature of Pokrov gingerbread was the absence of eggs in the dough, with a generous use of spices instead — such as cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. Today, Pokrov artisans continue to make the gingerbread by hand, baking it in special ovens and decorating it with icing. At INNOPROM 2025, these delicacies vividly illustrated how gastronomic traditions can become a part of contemporary food design. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

Visitors from Russia and abroad showed great interest in the artistic ceramics by Dymov Ceramics. All cups, plates, tea sets, and decorative items are hand-painted by skilled artisans. Some of the hand-painted ceramic series, tiles, and vases by this producer have been officially recognised as traditional crafts.

A significant feature of the Department Store's assortment was the legendary Gusev crystal, known for its unique brilliance. This is one of the most iconic Russian brands, widely recognised across the globe. At the exposition, visitors could see pieces from collections that have become part of modern classics — featuring a wide range of colours, shapes, and decorative elements.

The strong interest shown by visitors at INNOPROM 2025 in Yekaterinburg towards the Department Store stand confirmed that Russian traditional crafts meet the highest international standards of quality.

This year, the National Centre RUSSIA tested a travelling format for the first time. The Department Store stand featured products from over 100 Russian manufacturers across 46 regions. In the near future, new Department Store locations will open in various regions of the country as part of the regional branches of the National Centre RUSSIA.