The largest-ever edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will open tomorrow, 23 April, at Fira de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain.
The 30th edition of the expo is set to occupy 51,248 net square meters of exhibit space, marking a year-over-year increase of 4 percent from 2023. A total of 2,244 companies will be exhibiting from 87 countries, according to show organizer Diversified Communications. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
“For the 30th edition of the event, we have expanded into an additional hall, making it the largest edition in the event’s history in terms of net square meters of exhibit space,” Diversified Vice President of Seafood Wynter Courmont said.
New exhibiting countries include Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the Czech Republic, and Kiribati, with new regional pavilions hosted by Brazil, France, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Oman.
“The world’s most diverse global trade fair for the seafood industry will bring together key players from around the world: suppliers of seafood, equipment, packaging and services, retail buyers, food service and distribution businesses, importers, government and industry leaders,” Diversified Communications said in a release.
New companies exhibiting at the expo include CPF Culinar, Frinsa Del Noroeste, S.A., Giraldo Asistencia, S.L., Hijos de Albaladejo Garcia, Regal Springs AG, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Pacifico Aquaculture, Phillips Foods Inc, Reynaud, Lequertier Maree (SAS EDB Maree), and Merpacifico. For Seafood Processing Global, new exhibiting companies include Ashworth Belts BV, COLIGROUP SPA, GEA Food Solutions Germany GmbH, Maschinenfabrik Seydelmann KG, Heinen Freezing GmbH & Co. KG, HAROPA PORT, Mosca GmbH, TECMAQ, Vaessen Schoemaker, and Velec Systems.
To accommodate this rapid growth and effectively welcome new exhibitors, the event is expanding to Hall 1 of the Fira Barcelona Gran Via Venue and now occupies halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Galleria, which is between halls 4 and 5.
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will also host a conference program throughout its three days, featuring more than 90 international experts, including a keynote address from Brown University International Economics Professor Mark Blyth, as well as representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, International Transport Workers’ Federation, Marks and Spencer, the International Pole and Line Foundation, and more. The program will cover topics including labor rights, traceability, feed innovation, aquaculture, sustainability, equipment, and artificial intelligence.
“Last year, the event brought together more than 34,000 seafood professionals from around the world, making it a very diverse and international event. Over the next three days, the city of Barcelona will become an international hub for seafood business, and we expect an estimated economic impact of over EUR 156 million [USD 166.3 million] for the city,” Courmont said.
