The 28th annual Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global surpassed its previous visitor numbers total in its first year in Barcelona, Spain.
Despite complications caused by COVID-19 and the ongoing Ukraine crisis, the event drew total exhibitor and visitor numbers surpassing 26,000 during the three-day show at the Fira Barcelona Gran Vía exhibition grounds, which concluded Thursday, 28 April.
A total of 1,550 exhibiting companies from 76 different countries, occupying nearly 40,000 square meters of exhibit space, participated in this year’s event, the first since it departed Brussels, Belgium in 2019. Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based Diversified Communications reported the expo represented an estimated economic impact up to EUR 100 million (USD 105 million) for the city of Barcelona. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
“After two years without the event, it was a successful and productive debut in Barcelona. In a year challenged by geopolitical issues and COVID-19 restrictions, being able to host an event 98 percent the size of the largest edition ever held is a testimony that the industry was ready to get back together in person,” stated Liz Plizga, Diversified Communications’ Group Vice President. “Exhibitors and visitors have expressed their satisfaction with the exhibition space, its services and the city of Barcelona. And they also demonstrated the importance of participating in the event to present and source new products and generate new business opportunities.”
Diversified reported high-volume buyers from retail, foodservice, and distribution in attendance at the event included Aldi, Bidfood, Carrefour, Costco, Delhaize, Food Lovers Market, Ikea, Hellofresh, Kesko, Lidl, Makro, Mercadona, Sodexo, Subway, Sysco, The Cheesecake Factory, and Whole Foods.
“While the geopolitical situation in Russia and strict quarantine in China contributed to a decrease in the number of exhibiting staff at the event, buyers and other industry professionals visiting from all around the world surpassed 2019 figures,” Diversified said. “The 28th edition of the Expo re-affirms its position as the world’s largest seafood trade event bringing back together suppliers and industry buyers from around the globe. During the three-day event, the aisles were packed with seafood, equipment, and service professionals.”
The winners of the event’s 2022 Seafood Excellence Global Awards grand prize winners, recognizing the best products at the Expo, were Pescanova Spain, which won Best Retail Product for its Salmon Noodles,, and GlobeXplore, which won Best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its Seaweed Spread – Yuzu and Ginger.
The 2023 edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place from 25 to 27 April, 2023, at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, in Barcelona, Spain.
Photo courtesy of Diversified Communications
