Top Editors ... Alimentaria ´08, Internacional Food and Beverages Exhibition, Barcelona 10-14 March

Title: Alimentaria ´08, Internacional Food and Beverages Exhibition, Barcelona 10-14 March
Date: 02/03/2008
Autor: The Food World

Over 5,000 exhibitors and 155,000 visitors in Alimentaria 2008

This past Alimentaria, which took place from 6 to 10 March 2006 in Barcelona, marked the exhibition's 30th anniversary. By this time, it had already reached second place in the international fairs' league table for the industry through steady growth based on the twin concepts of a comprehensive macro-exhibition in partnership with the industry and maximum sectorial specialisation keeping a watchful eye on every detail of the market.

The success of its tradeshow led Alimentaria to occupy the entire space at both Fira Barcelona's fairgrounds: Montjuïc and Gran Via. 130,000 square metres of exhibition and activities space in all, 10% more than in 2004.

Nearly 5,000 of the leading food and drinks manufacturers and distributors from 70 countries showed their products at Alimentaria, turning Barcelona into the world's food capital for a week. 155,000 professionals, 33,000 of them from abroad, visited the fair.


Product Areas
From the very outset, Alimentaria has combined its status as a macro-fair with a highly specialised range of products and services on display in dedicated, single-theme shows to make it easier for professionals to plan their visits and do business. The whole of the food industry was represented in the thirteen product areas and two pavilions comprising Alimentaria Barcelona 2008.
Differential values
A long list of parallel activities makes Alimentaria a fair where there is always something to see and do: congresses and scientific activities that reveal the latest trends, pinpoint market openings, explode myths and build the future. The International Food Forum, the Congress on the Mediterranean Diet, the innovation show Innoval and the Business Co-operation Projects are just some of the most important.

In addition, Alimentaria offers visitors various recreational, demonstration and educational events that are staged in the different shows. They include The Spain of the 100 New-Cheeses, Vinorum, The Spain of the Oils and the International Gastronomy Meeting - BCN Vanguardia.

Presentation
A long list of parallel activities makes Alimentaria a show where there is always something to see and do: congresses, talks, cookery demonstrations and exhibitions mean that it is impossible to leave the fair without having been steeped in avant-garde food culture.
Alimentaria reinvents its classical activities every time and creates new spaces of expression and learning, which are specially interesting to buyers from the hospitality channel.

Research and development

International Food Forum
A forum for research and debate on the current issues facing the food production and distribution industry, new consumer habits and their consequences.

International Congress of the Mediterranean Diet
A forum for disseminating information on the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet bringing together scientists, professionals, businesspeople and gastronomes.

Innoval
A show dedicated to innovation in the food sector reflecting the Spanish industry's R+D+i efforts.

Tienda Futura
A recent initiative meant to raise awareness of the evolution and latest trends in the distribution industry.

Best Pack
The Best Pack prizes are recognition of the creative effort companies put into the marketing of food and drinks.

Triptolemos Foundation
The organization supports institutional agri-food research in Spain.

International Projects

The Latin America Project
One of the main business centres at Alimentaria for exchanges between different Spanish institutions and companies, on the one hand, and those belonging to the food and agricultural sectors in South America, on the other.

The Central and Eastern European Countries Project
Alimentaria fosters exchanges with, and the creation of business opportunities in, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The Asia Project
A platform for Spanish firms to get to know and make business contacts with India, China and Japan.

US Promotion
Alimentaria is staging distribution meetings to assist exhibitors at the event in exporting their products to the US and Canada.

Dynamic Alimentaria

BCN Vanguardia
The great International Gastronomy Congress at Alimentaria brings together the best chefs in the country.

Chef of the Year Competition
Up and coming young chefs will have a chance to show off their skills at the final competition of this event to be held at BCN Vanguardia and sponsored by the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS).

Vinorum
Education about wine and its culture, plus wine-tasting, in the heart of Intervin.

The Spain of the 100 Cheeses
The most complete route through the Spanish cheese map. Over 100 compulsory stops.

The Spain of Cured Iberian Meat products
At Intercarn, the meat and meat products show, the most discerning palates will be able to enjoy a myriad of Iberian pig-based delights.

The Spain of the Oils
Several sessions devoted to tastings, combinations and culinary uses at Olivaria to introduce visitors to the world of olive oil.

Interpesca Conference
Debates on the present and future of Spanish fish in the FROM (Spain's Fish Market Regulatory Board) activities programme.

Coffee Time
A space in Restaurama for sampling coffee and spreading information on its properties.

Village
The Village of Alimentaria supposes an ideal emplacement in order that visitors and exhibitors could share impressions, simultaneously that enjoy the best meal of the Mediterranean.

Ready-prepared and Ready-cooked foods live
The new ways of cooking in Alimentaria 2008.

www.alimentaria-bcn.com/es-es/index.cfm