The show exceeded expected attendance figures in number of professionals
Alimentaria brings together more than 140,000 agents from the sector
Alimentaria 2010 closed its doors on March 26th, leaving a good taste in the mouth of all involved. The show succeeded in bringing in 140,542 professionals, 8% more than initial forecasts. These figures are especially important considering the current economic and trade show environment, and represent a 'boost of optimism' for an industry such as agri-foods, of great economic importance in the future. Following a week of intense trade show activity at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Vía venue, Alimentaria defended its status as the benchmark Spanish event for the agri-food sector and its position among the top three most important food and drink trade shows in the world.
The participating companies, around 4,000 firms from 75 countries, valued positively the quality and the quantity of the professionals who have visited the show, as well as the high number of international professionals, more than 36,000 from 155 countries, 9% more than the initially forecasted. The international visitors represented the 25% of the total of the attendees, which meant that one out of four visitors came from abroad.
Over the course of the week Alimentaria presented the latest from the industry, from non-alcoholic wine to chocolate cheese, including sparkling wine with edible gold, oxygenated water and seaweed caviar. Antioxidant green coffees, tapas with seaweed, chocolates with Cabrales cheese, ham for sushi, Aztec walnuts and hundreds of other new products made their debut at the show.
Josep Lluís Bonet, Chairman of Alimentaria and Fira de Barcelona, emphasised that Alimentaria 2010 has more than fulfilled expectations, thanks to a great deal of work and two years of preparation. 'It's impossible to improvise a success such as this,' he said, after indicating his satisfaction with how the show went at an edition which was anticipated to be 'especially decisive, Alimentaria has demonstrated the strength and energy of its trade show model '.
For J. Antonio Valls, Director of Alimentaria and deputy managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, Alimentaria 2010 established itself as 'a major opportunity for the Spanish food and drink industry to make contacts and do business through the International Projects, among other tools which the show makes available to exhibitors'.
Alimentaria 2010 was officially inaugurated by Príncipes de Asturias together with the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, Elena Espinosa; the president of Generalitat de Cataluña, José Montilla; the councillor of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action, Joaquim Llena, and others authorities.
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