Seafood Expo Global, the world's largest seafood fair, lands in Barcelona

The first edition of SeaFood Expo Global is warming up with good attendance forecasts. One month before its celebration, the world's largest seafood fair has almost 40,000 square meters of exhibition space reserved, a figure that represents 97% of what was achieved in its last edition, three years ago, and stands are still being contracted. The event will occupy four pavilions of Fira Gran Via and is expected to have an economic impact of 100 million euros on the city.

Around 1,500 exhibiting companies from 76 countries and 59 regional and national pavilions will participate in the event in its debut in the Catalan capital. Seafood comes from Brussels, its previous location, where it has been for 27 years, but it has become too small. The fair received 29,000 participants in 2019 and does not specify how many it expects for this year, but details that, for now, they will come from 120 different countries.

The possibilities of growing the event in Barcelona were one of the factors that convinced the organization, Diversified Communications, to move to Fira de Barcelona. "We went through a very long evaluation process. Our goal was to choose a location with a long trajectory of future growth," said the group's vice president, Liz Plizga, at the presentation of the 28th edition of Seafood. Other issues that were taken into account were the city's hotel, restaurant, and leisure offerings, as well as its position in the maritime industry. "Barcelona arouses a lot of interest," Plizga remarked.

The possibilities of growing the event in Barcelona were one of the factors that convinced the organizers to move to Fira de Barcelona

Despite everything, the pandemic has not been able to overcome the need for in-person presence to close deals. "Seafood is an example of the return to normality, in which fairs have proven to be absolutely necessary and useful for sectors like this one," Serrallonga defended. "Everyone is very eager to do business in person," added the vice president of Diversified Communications.

Despite being considered almost overcome, COVID will still be present at the show. Seafood Expo Global will require the use of masks and testing will be facilitated for those who need them for their trip to Barcelona. The coronavirus will not only continue to affect the fair due to the measures that will have to be taken, but it will also be evident due to a lower participation of companies and attendees from China, as also happened at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). If in a pre-pandemic edition, these companies would represent between 9 and 10% of the exhibition area of Seafood, this time a minimal participation is expected.

Likewise, the geopolitical context will once again manifest itself in the corridors of Fira Gran Via. At Seafood Expo Global, Russian and Belarusian companies will not be able to participate due to the attack on Ukraine. The organization also expects a lower attendance of Ukrainian companies. This conflict in Europe was already evident at the MWC. In this case, the Russian pavilion was vetoed, but the participation of its companies was allowed.

Synergies with Alimentaria

Seafood will arrive after the Alimentaria&Hostelco and Barcelona Wine Week shows, which will be held next week. "Fira has an important position in events of this industry and Seafood will add energies. This is key," Serrallonga remarked. In that sense, Plizga does not see these other fairs as competitors. "The seafood industry is very broad, very fragmented and very complex. This justifies the need to have our own fair, but they are fairs that complement each other," Plizga explained.

For this reason, Serrallonga has defended that Seafood will position itself within the top 5 of the congresses hosted by Fira de Barcelona. "It is not just a new event for Barcelona, it is a very special one. It combines being a leading fair with representing a very relevant industry for our country," she indicated.