Alimentaria & Hostelco, the leading international platform for food, beverages, food service, and hospitality equipment, will return to Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue from 18 to 21 March 2024 with a 15% increase in the number of international companies compared to the previous fair. Around 900 foreign exhibiting companies (more than 28% of the total), alongside the 2,300 Spanish ones, will take part, while the leadership of the Italian companies and the return of the Asian companies after the Covid-19 pandemic will be noticeable.
As in previous years, Italy will once again lead the international participation with over 50 firms and 2,365 square meters of surface area, enjoying the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Spain, together with the regions of Piedmont and, for the first time, Campania. In addition, quality brands from the country such as the Consortia for the Protection of Grana Padano PDO and Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheeses and over 30 firms, will have their areas in the Interlact, fine foods, grocery foods, coffee, bakery&pastry, Intercarn, and snacks, biscuits, and confectionery sectors.
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After Italy, the countries set to occupy the most exhibition space at Alimentaria&Hostelco 2024 will be Turkey, China and Hong Kong, Poland, Portugal, France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, and Argentina. In most cases, they have grown both in terms of footage and number of companies compared to the previous trade show. Similarly, the participation of the United States and Morocco will increase significantly.
According to J. Antonio Valls, Managing Director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, “Companies in the industry are opting for the diversification of their destination markets to address the uncertainty that’s beset the world economy in recent years. In this regard, Alimentaria & Hostelco 2024 is the optimal business platform for companies from all over the world to expand their horizons throughout Europe, Asia, and America.”
ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE BACK
The increased participation of Asian companies will be extremely visible at the upcoming Alimentaria & Hostelco exhibition, especially those from China & Hong Kong and Taiwan, which didn’t attend in 2022 due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
Thus, China will occupy nine large areas with dozens of companies grouped under the umbrella of the China Chamber of Commerce For Import and Export of Foodstuffs (CCCFNA) in International Pavilions, Expoconser, snacks, biscuits&confectionery, Restaurama, and organic foods. As for Taiwan, it will focus its proposals for food service professionals on the Restaurama industry. Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, and Japan will also have a prominent presence.
MAJOR IMPORTERS
Alimentaria&Hostelco will organize a powerful buyer invitation programme to bring together more than 2,200 high-level importers, distributors, directors, and purchasing managers. More than half of them will be international ones from 80 nations.
The top 10 priority countries will be headed by the United States, Mexico, China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, followed by the main destination countries for Spanish imports in Europe and Latin America. World Market and The Fresh Market (USA), Walmart Mexico, CitySuper (China), and Sodexo (UK) have confirmed their participation.
Alimentaria & Hostelco anticipates the attendance of around 3,200 exhibiting companies, which will occupy a net surface area covering 100,000 square meters and seven halls, practically the whole of Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue. It also expects to receive more than 100,000 professional visitors.