Alimentaria, a feast of optimism for the food and gastronomy sector

There is, more than ever, a desire for Alimentaria. The emblematic Fira de Barcelona trade show is preparing to celebrate between April 4 and 7 a powerful edition that aims to be "an injection of optimism for the agri-food sector and for the Spanish economy as a whole," according to its president, businessman José Luis Bonet, also president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

According to Bonet, "the Alimentaria of recovery will fill all of society with enthusiasm" and will mark a turning point for the trade fair sector, for the food industry, and for the hospitality sector, which is gradually returning to normality after suffering the consequences of the health crisis.

For Fira de Barcelona, organizer of the show through Alimentaria Exhibitions, this edition is of vital importance after the hard blow of the cancellation of Alimentaria 2020. "During these two years the team has suffered a lot, we have been in the ICU, but for the brand's reputation it was a great success to postpone the fair until 2022," highlights Alimentaria director, Toni Valls.

The executive assures that everything is ready to celebrate "a great edition," with an exhibition area of 85,000 square meters that will occupy the seven pavilions of the Gran Via exhibition center. The participation of 3,000 companies is expected, of which about 400 will be foreign, from 54 countries.

According to Valls, this forced hiatus due to the pandemic has been used to "reconceptualize the show," as Alimentaria "has continuous innovation in its DNA." "Fairs are coming back no matter what, and we want to demonstrate again that they are a great instrument for generating value and driving the country's economy," assures Valls.

The Alimentaria Show will be held this year jointly with Hostelco, the international fair for equipment and machinery for the restaurant and hotel sector. The sum of both proposals will offer sector professionals a unique showcase to favor their reactivation, learn about the latest trends, and find the advantages offered by in-person interaction after long months of virtual meetings. In addition, the second edition of Barcelona Wine Week (BWW), which was initially scheduled for early February, will also be held that same week at the Montjuïc venue, so Barcelona will once again be the great food capital of Southern Europe during those days.

One of the hallmarks of Alimentaria & Hostelco is its extensive program of parallel activities, with more than 50 dynamic and informative sessions that will be given by a group of 30 chefs who collectively hold 35 Michelin stars. They will be the protagonists of The Experience Live Gastronomy, an area of more than 3,500 square meters that will host six kitchens where chefs will develop showcookings, workshops, presentations, and talks.

Elena Arzak (Arzak ***), Paolo Casagrande (Lasarte ***), Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch (Disfrutar **), Fina Puigdevall (Les Cols **), Mario Sandoval (Coque **), Raül Balam (Moments **), Alberto Feruz, (Bonamb** ), Lucía Freitas (A Táfona*), Hideki Matsuhisa (Koy Shunka *), Macarena de Castro (Maca de Castro *), Nandu Jubany (Can Jubany *), Begoña Rodrigo (La Salita *), Albert Raurich (Dos palillos *), Pepe Solla (Casa Solla *) and Marcos Morán (Casa Gerardo *) are some of the big names that make up the program.

Sustainability, local cuisine, and the union of the most avant-garde techniques with the recovery of the most traditional cuisine will be some of the main axes of the activity program, which also includes the final of the Chef of the Year Contest and the National Tapas Award Alimentos de España.