A partnership that nourishes excellence: Podravka Expert and Maistra

This year, we proudly supported the second edition of the Istria Rowing Cup 2026, an international long-distance rowing regatta held from February 25 to March 1 in the Lim Channel. This event is co-organized by Maistra, one of Croatia’s leading tourism companies.

Alongside top athletes, including Olympic champions and world and European winners, our team of experts had the honor of catering to the participants. We fully tailored the menu to meet the needs of professional athletes, thanks to Podravka Expert, suitable for preparation in hotels and for athletes.

Professionally Prepared Meals

The Podravka team of promoters, led by chefs Ivan Bobinac, Dario Horvat, and Ivica Sitar, prepared a variety of dishes using the Podravka Expert product range from pouches – practical solutions developed for quick, quality, and nutritionally balanced preparation.

Athletes enjoyed dishes such as orzotto with chicken, peppers, and beans, polenta flavored with rosemary and meatballs, beef goulash with peas and three types of grains, and whole grain penne with bolognese sauce.

The first day of the regatta was particularly marked by čobanac, further spiced with finely ground smoked sweet paprika. All hot dishes – chicken paprika, meatballs, beef goulash, bolognese sauce, and čobanac – were prepared from Podravka dishes in pouches, ensuring speed, convenience, and top-notch taste.

As an addition to the dishes, Zlato polje products (barley, three types of grains, whole grain penne) and canned beans and peas were used. Cooking was enriched with various Podravka pastes and spices such as Vegeta Smoked, Vegeta Sweet Chilli, Vegeta Fine Blend, Maestro thyme, and Belje graševina for orzotto.

Nutrition Tailored for Athletes

Participants had daily access to a protein-rich breakfast and snack offerings. On the table were three types of Čokolina that athletes mixed with O’plant drinks.

The offerings also included Eva tuna salads, Fini mini soups, Dolcela protein shakes mixed with O’plant drinks, various Podravka teas, and oatmeal or muesli of different kinds.

On a special stand, Fini Mini Noodles were served, while O’plant fruit purees provided the extra energy needed for athletes’ recovery.

A Partnership that Nourishes Excellence

Podravka Expert once again confirmed its role as a reliable partner in professional sports, providing quality, practical, and nutritionally rich food that supports top athletic performance.

The partnership with Maistra and support for the Istria Rowing Cup further emphasizes Podravka’s commitment to health, quality, and support for sports excellence.