Alimentaria warms up with 90% occupancy secured

The Alimentaria Show, together with Hostelco, already has the confirmed presence of 3,000 companies and is close to full occupancy, with 18% international participation. The fair will be held at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue, from April 4 to 7, after the cancellation of the event due to covid in 2020 and 2021.

It is expected that Alimentaria and Hostelco will occupy seven pavilions and a net exhibition area of 85,000 square meters. The synergies produced between the offerings of both shows allow the market to be offered around 20,000 square meters dedicated to hospitality, with the participation of 600 national and international firms.

Two months before its celebration, this year's edition already has 90% occupancy in most of the halls it encompasses and has revalidated the participation of 87% of the companies that had confirmed their presence in the 2020 edition. Likewise, more than 200 companies are attending for the first time in search of business opportunities or to explore export possibilities.

According to data provided by Fira de Barcelona, the Grocery Foods; Snacks, Biscuits & Confectionary; Interlact; Expo Conser; Fine Foods, Organics and Intercarn halls are already at full occupancy levels. The latter stands out as the most dynamic sector and has taken the lead of the event with more than 14,000 square meters of exhibition for brands in the Spanish meat industry.

Also noteworthy, as is usual at this event in the food and beverage sector, is the international presence with 400 companies, 18% of the total, coming from 52 countries and occupying an area of 15,000 square meters. Among them, the first-time participation of Brazil, Slovakia, Australia, Canada, United Arab Emirates and Puerto Rico stands out.

The meeting will focus on innovation, gastronomy and management linked to sustainability, as well as social responsibility, with a set of activities with more than 200 experts. The congresses, presentations and fast talks will focus on innovation, sustainability, digitalization, new habits in retail, nutrition, health and booming segments, such as alternative protein or halal products.

The event will include The Alimentaria Hub, a space within the Digital Food Arena, which will bring together eight startups called to revolutionize the food sector, which will be chosen by the Food Hospitality Startup Revolution program, promoted by Alimentaria and Hostelco.

Gastronomy will be the protagonist of a large part of the fair's offerings. The six stages of The Experience Live Gastronomy program will bring together more than 30 renowned chefs, who collectively hold more than 36 Michelin stars. Chefs and experts will offer live cooking, workshops, tastings, and presentations of culinary techniques in sustainable gastronomy, territory, the recovery of traditions, and the research of future foods.