News From : DagangHalal.com (28 Apr 2016)
Alimentaria goes even further. At the edition marking its 40th anniversary, the great Spanish food and drink fair, which closes today at the Gran Via Exhibition Centre in Barcelona, managed to attract visitors from 157 countries (16 more than in 2014), underlining its international pulling power and efficient role at galvanising exports for sector companies. The show also left a very positive impact on attendees, as shown by the reactivation of domestic demand in view of the rise in consumption.
The 4,000 exhibitors came from 78 different countries and of the 140,000 registered visitors, 32% were international, reflecting the tremendous potential of this event, which has consolidated its leadership as one of the benchmark European trade shows in the sector with innovation and gastronomy as two of its main cornerstones.
Of the 44,000 international visitors, 2% more than in 2014, half were from Europe, mainly France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Portugal and the Netherlands. The second large geographical source of visitors was the USA, followed by Latin America, headed by trade professionals from Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru. Asia’s representation also grew with visitors from Japan, Hong Kong and China. From the Middle East, it is worth mentioning the growth in the number of visitors from the United Arab Emirates. New countries on the list of visitors included Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Congo and Mozambique.
In addition, Alimentaria invited some 800 top-level foreign buyers, 62% more than in 2014. These included importers and distributors from Europe, Asia, Latin America and the USA who held 11,200 business meetings with exhibitors, 12% more than at the past edition. These meetings, organised in conjunction with the Federation of Food and Drink Industries (FIAB), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), ICEX España, and the Catalan government’s Acció department, are very highly rated by the companies taking part, which recognise their usefulness when it comes to opening up new markets.
The president of Fira de Barcelona and Alimentaria, Josep Lluís Bonet, noted: ‘The event has consolidated itself as a major platform for exports from the Spanish food industry as well as an important showcase of the sector’s innovations and the new trends that are emerging in this market’. According to Bonet, ‘we are witnessing Spanish products becoming better known and achieving a more premium position, which will result in growth in the value of our exports’.
The General Manager of Alimentaria Exhibitions, J. Antoni Valls, believes that ‘at this edition we have taken a very important step forward in our overseas projection, reaching key markets for the future of the food industry, especially for products such as wine, olive oil and meat’. In addition to internationalisation, the strength of domestic demand has also been evident this year, according to Valls: ‘We have managed to attract every professional profile in the food distribution and retail industry, as well as the HoReCa channel, which will translate into new business and opportunities to increase sales in both the domestic and foreign market
Alimentaria is the benchmark international trade fair organised by Alimentaria Exhibitions, a Fira de Barcelona company that specialises in events for the food industry. Its portfolio of trade shows includes Alimentaria FoodTech, Alimentaria & Horexpo Lisbon, Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico and Barcelona Degusta.
The next edition of Alimentaria will take place from 16 to 19 April 2018 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre.