Strong focus on Asian markets at Alimentaria 2012
Over 70 journalists from around the world attended a two day presentation in Barcelona for the launch of Alimenaria 2012
Print19 October 2011
Alimentaria Exhibitions Antonio Valls highlighted the show’s strong focus on Asian countries like Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Indonesia and India
A representative from ShelfLife was among the 80 foreign journalists representing major food and drinks industry publications, that took part in the international presentation of Alimentaria 2012 in Barcelona on 30 September ahead of the main event, which will be held at the Gran Vía exhibition site in Barcelona, 26–29 March 2012.
In addition to attending the press conference, the journalists enjoyed an intensive two-day programme of activities. Highlights included the leisure, cultural and culinary tour of the Torres winery.
Alimentaria 2012 is set to be the trade fair’s most international edition so far. The fair is expected to attract 4,000 exhibitor companies, a third of which will come from abroad, and 150,000 buyers. Alimentaria will bring together specialists from more than 75 countries in Barcelona.
Food industry opinion leaders, officials, and national and international journalists took part in a day of talks analysing the economic situation in the food industry held at La Casa Llotja de Mar in Barcelona. There was also a presentation of the main new features at the trade show.
Presiding over the international presentation was Josep-Lluís Bonet, chairman of the Alimentaria Organising Committee. Also present were Josep Maria Pelegrí, secretary of the government of Catalonia’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, Food and the Environment and Jesús Serafín, president of the Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation (FIAB).
The event focused participants’ attention on internationalisation. Five success cases at Spanish companies were presented to demonstrate the special importance of this concept for the food and drinks industry in Spain, as well as for each one of the 14 shows that make up Alimentaria.
Indigenous Spanish produce will be a strong focus at next year’s fair
A group of industry experts brought their opinions and business experience to the table, placing special emphasis on the importance of international expansion for Spanish food and drinks companies in order to ride out the crisis.
IESE professor Antonio Argandoña told attendees that consumption in Spain is expected to rise 0.3%, to which we can add the 14.7% rise in Spanish food and drink exports compared to the same period of the previous year, according to ICEX data.
The trade fair will be redoubling its efforts to adapt to the current economic situation, making it a venue where companies can gain access to foreign markets, especially Asia. Japan, Thailand and Vietnam will be sending institutional exhibitor groups to the exhibition for the first time, China is doubling the size of its space and the Alimentaria website will now have a version in Chinese and Japanese.
Alimentaria 2012 will feature two new exhibition halls with a total of almost 95,000 m2. This edition will include 12 sector-specific shows and three specifically for international delegations, autonomous communities and organic food products.
Alimentaria has established itself as the best tool for companies seeking to promote their products and demonstrate their quality and innovation. However the trade show also creates synergies between companies and countries, with increases of 91% (international) and 6% (national) in the number of visitors since the year 2000.
“We have set ourselves the goal of 140,000 buyers,” said director of Alimentaria and deputy managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, J. Antonio Valls, who highlighted the show’s strong focus on Asian countries like Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Indonesia and India.
Valls also explained that Alimentaria would increase investment in international promotion by 30%, renewing internationalisation agreements with FIAB (Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation), increasing advertising investment in international media outlets, organising practical seminars on international markets such as Russia and China, and strengthening programmes such as Hosted Buyers.
Alimentaria has institutional and business relationships with more than 150 countries, an example of the trade fair’s international focus. The number of international agents has risen from four (in 1998) to 27 (in 2012).
Alimentaria’s ongoing commitment to value propositions which educate and inform specialists will not disappoint specialised visitors this year. Almost 10,000 m2 will be devoted to this type of activity, with highlights including BCNVanguardia, Taste & Flavours and a number of seminars and conferences for each sector at the trade show.
For the second consecutive year, Alimentaria will focus on the best of national and international cuisine, placing special emphasis on the quality and variety of cuisine from other countries.
The news announcement for the International Conference on the Mediterranean Diet added a healthy note to the event. The issue of obesity will be dealt with at the conference, with Dr. Ordovás presiding. The event will take place in the exhibition site’s auditorium on 27 and 28 March.
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