With 51,248 net square meters of exhibit space, the 30th edition welcomed a record 2,244 exhibiting companies from 87 countries from around the world to meet in-person to conduct business and learn about the latest industry trends.
The next Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will be held in Barcelona on 6-8 May 2025
Barcelona, Spain (25 April 2024) – Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest and most diverse seafood trade show, closes its 30th edition with record breaking figures, making it the largest edition in the history of the event. Diversified Communications, organizer of the event, estimates that more than 35,000 buyers and suppliers from the global seafood industry came to the event for its third year in Barcelona.
With 51,248 net square meters of exhibit space, the event welcomed a record 2,244 exhibiting seafood and seafood processing equipment companies from 87 different countries and 67 national and regional pavilions. With the expansion into Hall 1, this year’s event occupied Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Galleria (between Halls 4 and 5) at the Gran Via venue. The economic impact for the city is estimated to be more than 156 million Euros.
“It was exciting to feel the buzz throughout the exhibit halls,” said Wynter Courmont, Vice President of Seafood at Diversified Communications USA. “The industry relies on this event to reach their annual business goals in the global market. Both exhibitors and visitors utilize this platform as a place to meet with current customers, find new ones, forge customer relationships and expand their knowledge of the industry.”
Seafood Expo Global exhibitors showcased the most recent innovation in seafood -– fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed and packaged – such as seafood sweets such as salmon candy and shrimp lollipops, fish chips, pickled wakame seaweed or seafood spreads. Seafood Processing Global brought together companies representing every aspect of seafood processing, including packaging material and machinery, equipment and supplies for refrigeration and freezing, primary and secondary processing equipment, hygiene control and sanitation, and quality assurance services.
This year’s event has seen an increase in companies presenting aquaculture technologies and equipment and logistical companies, as well as high-volume buyers from the retail, foodservice and distribution taking part in the event’s Key Buyer program, including AEON Topvalu Co., Ltd (Japan), Aldi (Germany, Australia, Austria, France, Spain, United Kingdom), Bidfood (Australia, Latvia, Estonia, Netherlands, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Spain), Brakes/Constellation (United Kingdom), Colruyt (Belgium), Coop (United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland), Costco (United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom), Delhaize (Belgium), Elior (France, United Kingdom), Emart Inc. (South Korea), Galati Group (Australia), Giant Eagle (United States), HelloFresh (United Kingdom, Germany, Spain), IKEA (Germany, Sweden), Lidl (German, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Greece), Lotte Mart (South Korea), Metro (France, Serbia, North Czechia, Moldova, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy), Qatar Airways (Qatar), Royal Caribbean Group (United States), Snowfox Group (United Kingdom), Sysco (United Kingdom, Italy, France, Hong Kong) and more.
Latest product trends, innovations and technologies to advance the seafood industry
Sustainability, aquaculture, labor issues, artificial intelligence and traceability were some of the most prominent topics discussed at the event’s three-day conference program.
The prestigious Seafood Excellence Global Awards recognized the best products represented at the Expo with French companies Parcs Saint Kerber and Algolesko winning the top prizes. Parcs Saint Kerber won the Best Retail Product for its Oysters Trio Saint Kerber, which features four each of three of the company’s iconic oysters in a single retail box. Algolesko won the grand prize for Best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its Wakame Pickles, which offers a unique new way for chefs to present seaweed on the menu.
“We wanted to exhibit at Seafood Expo Global this year because our company’s expanding in new markets with the acquisitions of our snow crab and our lobster companies in Canada and this is the place to be to launch our new products in those categories and to talk to customers face-to-face,” said John Knorr, Senior Vice President & COO of Phillips Seafoods. “This event allows us to meet and talk with our customers, get their feedback on new items and catch up to see what their goals are for the coming year. There’s an incredible draw of people and this is where we have to be to talk to them. Even if you’re a small company trying to start up or a large company, it’s important to be here to see what the trends are, what people want, and what people are talking about. It’s a great place to learn a lot and talk to people about what you do.”
For the first time, the Expo hosted a reception and networking event “Connecting Women in Seafood,”which provided attendees a space to connect, share experiences and expand their professional network with a goal in mind: create a more inclusive and thriving seafood industry.
For its third year in a row, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global partnered with Barcelona Food Bank, Banc dels Aliments to collect the seafood products donated by exhibitors. Volunteers walked around the exhibit halls to gather donated seafood products in refrigerated vehicles.
The next Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place in Barcelona, from 6-8 May 2025, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue. For further information visit www.seafoodexpo.com/global.
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About Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global
Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global form the world’s largest seafood trade event. Thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world attend the annual, three-day exposition to meet, network and conduct business. Attending buyers represent importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other retail and foodservice companies. Exhibiting suppliers offer the newest seafood products, processing and packaging equipment, and services available in the seafood market. SeafoodSource.com is the exposition’s official media. The exposition is produced by Diversified Communications, the international leader in seafood-industry expositions and media. www.seafoodexpo.com/global.
About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products Diversified Communications connects, educates and strengthens business communities in over 15 industries including: food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, business management and technology. The company’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.
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