The trade show’s organising Committee, made up of the industry’s main associations and companies in Spain has decided to change dates taking into account the characteristics and needs of the industry in the current context arising from the pandemic, as well as the magnitude and international nature of an event which, in its last edition, together with HOSTELCO show, brought together over 4,500 companies and 150,000 professional visitors, 25% of them being international.
The president of Alimentaria, Josep Lluís Bonet, highlighted that “the decision supports the majority of the industry’s productive and associative network, committing to holding the event in a more favourable environment and without so many limitations on international mobility. Our common objective is, as always, to be a great tool for the industry, its projection and to achieve the best possible edition and participation”.
Fira de Barcelona CEO, Constantí Serrallonga, said that “we have chosen the new dates after assessing the situation in depth and listening to the sector, whom we thank for their support, in order to guarantee the best development of such a relevant event at national and international level, and thus contribute to the reactivation of a key industry for the country’s economy”.
Important players in the food and beverage industry in Spain such as the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA); the Spanish Food & Drinks Industry Federation (FIAB); ICEX Spain Export and Investment; the Spanish Confectionery Association (Produlce); the Association of Manufacturers and Distributors (AECOC); the Meat Business Association (Anafric); and the Business Federation of Meats and Meat Industries (Fecic), among many others, have expressed their satisfaction with this decision as it offers greater guarantees as well as keeping its commercial appeal.
In this sense, for J. Antonio Valls, General Manager of Alimentaria Exhibitions, “a new scenario is opening up which makes it possible to foresee a great edition for May 2021 with the complicity of the industry, with a high degree of internationalisation and a reactivation of international demand which is so necessary both for the industry and for the trade show itself”. Therefore, the celebration of Alimentaria in May 2021 guarantees the full internationality of the show, one of its great assets.
Alimentaria, an economic and social driving force
One of the key issues that reflects the importance of Alimentaria is the estimated 900 million euros positive impact on the local economy, including both exhibitors’ and visitors’ expenses and the potential business generated by holding it.
Alimentaria 2021, which will be held at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, will project innovation and gastronomy as its benchmark values. The event will continue to include meat products (Intercarn), dairy (Interlact), canned food (Expoconser), confectionery and snacks (Snacks, Biscuits & Confectionary), Mediterranean diet, fresh products, olive oils and vegetables (Mediterranean Foods) and food service (Restaurama) shows. Alongside them, Grocery Foods will bring together the leading mass-market companies and the latest trends will be shown at Alimentaria Trends, which will include delicatessen, organic and functional foods, among others. Lands of Spain, with the best native Spanish production; and the International Pavilion will complete Alimentaria’s offer.
Fira de Barcelona will also monitor the evolution of the pandemic so that, if necessary on the dates of the event, it can apply the anti-Covid protocol that it has drawn up in collaboration with the specialist risk management consultancy Aon and the epidemiological advice of the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona in order to offer maximum safety guarantees for workers, organisers, exhibitors, visitors and suppliers.
It is important to highlight that a 2 day conference on New Food will go ahead on September 28th and 29th at Fira de Barcelona Conference Centre. The conference will analyse the future of the agri-food industry, restaurants, hotels and tourism, key sectors of Spain’s economy, and well represented in shows such as Alimentaria, Hostelco and Fòrum Gastronòmic, with the participation of service and distribution companies in these areas. www.alimentaria.com
