Key Spanish trade show to return in April

With a net exhibition area of almost 85,000sq m, Alimentaria will feature nearly 3,000 companies across the food and drink industry, alongside Hostelco, the leading trade fair for the food industry and its value chain. The event’s international contingent will be strong, with 400 companies flying in from 52 countries, including first-time exhibitors from Brazil, Slovakia, Australia, Canada, The United Arab Emirates and Puerto Rico.

The show remains a firm favourite in the food and drink industry’s calendar, with 87% of exhibitors from 2020 reaffirming their participation this year. But new opportunities are propelling the sector forwards too, as more than 200 companies visit the exhibition for the very first time.

For J. Antonio Valls, managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, the next edition of the show “will allow us to promote the development of the food and beverage industry, which is a strategic sector for the Spanish economy, as well as to continue strengthening the positioning of Spanish food and beverage products in international markets, connecting businesses and promoting face-to-face networking with key decision-makers in the market”.

Ten different shows make up Alimentaria, including traditional sectors such as meat, dairy and preserves, as well as the new Alimentaria Trends space, with sub-sectors including fine foods, organic foods, allergen-free, halal and functional foods.

Alongside exhibitions, the event will feature the Alimentaria Hub, a forum on trends and the future of food that will host more than 200 industry experts; the Digital food Arena, which will bring together eight start-ups set to revolutionise the food sector; and the Experience Live Gastronomy conference, which includes a programme of live cooking, workshops, tastings and presentations with more than 30 top chefs.