The 30th edition will be the largest in its history bringing the global seafood industry together to deliver a valuable platform for face-to-face business on a global scale
Occupying 51,248 net square meters, the 2024 edition will take place in Barcelona from 23 to 25 April with an estimated economic impact of over 156 million euros
90 world experts in the industry will lead more than 25 informative conference sessions highlighting the industry’s latest innovations
Portland, Maine (22 April 2024) – Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest and most diverse trade event for the seafood industry produced by Diversified Communications, opens its 30th edition tomorrow as the largest in its history with 51,248 net square meters of exhibit space – a 4 percent increase over its previous edition in 2023. For its third year at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía exhibition grounds, the Expo will provide a valuable platform for the industry to do business on a global scale from 23-25 April.
Starting tomorrow, the 2024 edition will welcome 2,244 exhibiting companies from 87 countries and 67 national and regional pavilions. The world’s most diverse global trade fair for the seafood industry will bring together the key players from around the world: suppliers of seafood, equipment, packaging and services, retail buyers, food service and distribution businesses, importers, government and industry leaders. With the expansion into Hall 1, the exhibits will occupy Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Galleria (between halls 4 and 5), at the Gran Via venue.
“For the 30th edition of the event, we have expanded into an additional hall, making it the largest edition in the event’s history in terms of net square meters of exhibit space,” said Wynter Courmont, Vice President of Seafood at Diversified Communications. “Last year, the event brought together more than 34,000 seafood professionals from around the world, making it a very diverse and international event. Over the next three days, the city of Barcelona will become an international hub for seafood business, and we expect an estimated economic impact of over 156 million Euros for the city.”
An international platform for the seafood industry
Starting tomorrow and for the next three days, Barcelona will be the international epicentre of business in the seafood industry, gathering exhibitors from every corner of the world. New countries such as Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Czech Republic and Kiribati and new regional pavilions from Brazil, France, Republic of Korea, Japan and Oman have confirmed their attendance for the event.
Among the 2,244 exhibiting companies, 657 companies will be exhibiting for the first time in at least two editions, many for the first time ever. New companies exhibiting in Seafood Expo Global include CPF Culinar, Frinsa Del Noroeste, S.A., Giraldo Asistencia, S.L., Hijos de Albaladejo Garcia, Regal Springs AG, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Pacifico Aquaculture, Phillips Foods Inc, Reynaud, Lequertier Maree (SAS EDB Maree), Merpacifico. For Seafood Processing Global, new exhibiting companies include Ashworth Belts BV, COLIGROUP SPA, GEA Food Solutions Germany GmbH, Maschinenfabrik Seydelmann KG, Heinen Freezing GmbH & Co. KG, HAROPA PORT, Mosca GmbH, TECMAQ, Vaessen Schoemaker, Velec Systems.
Exhibitors in Seafood Expo Global halls will display the most recent innovations in seafood – fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed and packaged – to industry buyers from across the world including supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, caterers, importers, distributors, seafood markets and other retail and foodservice companies. Exhibiting companies in Seafood Expo Global will include AquaChile, Balfego & Balfego, Blumar, Cermaq Norway AS, Clearwater, Cooke Seafood Inc, Cornelis Vrolijk BV, Denholm Seafoods Ltd, Direct Ocean, Frime, S.A.U., Frinsa Del Noroeste, S.A., Gelazur, Godaco Seafood JCS, Greenland Sofina, Groupe Barba, Iceland Seafood International, Japofish, Lerøy Seafood Group ASA, Maresmar SL, Metarex, Mowi ASA, Parlevliet & van der Plas Bv, Pescanova España, S.L.U., Phillips Foods Inc, Regal Springs AG, Salmar AS, Sea Harvest Corporation (Pty) Ltd, Seafood Connection Bv, Vinh Hoan Corporation, Worldwide Fishing Company SL, Talleys and Unima among many others.
In Seafood Processing Global, every aspect of seafood processing and services for the seafood industry, including packaging material and machinery, equipment and supplies for refrigeration and freezing, primary and secondary processing equipment, hygiene control and sanitation, quality assurance services, aquaculture equipment, transportation, cold storage, traceability solutions and more will be represented in Halls 1 and 3. Key industry leaders exhibiting will include Adriatic Sea International srl, Ashworth Belts BV, Aquatiq AS, Baader, CMA CGM, Cocci Luciano SRL, COLIGROUP SPA, Defitrans SA, FoodTech Belgium vzw, GEA Food Solutions Germany GmbH, Lineage Logistics, Maersk AS, Marel, Maschinenfabrik Seydelmann KG, Mediterranean Shipping Company, MMC First Process, MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG, Palinox Ingenieria y Proyectos Sl, STEF, ULMA Packaging and more.
The event will continue its collaboration with Barcelona Food Bank, Banc dels Aliments, to collect seafood donated by exhibitors at the end of the three days. In 2023, more than 50 volunteers walked around the exhibit halls to collect permission for product donations that had been properly stored during the entirety of the event. The entity estimated recovering around 14,000 kg of product.
Connecting and educating seafood professionals on the latest industry trends, products and opportunities
The latest seafood products and trends will be on display during the prestigious annual Seafood Excellence Global Awards, which recognizes the best seafood products at the event. Winners will be chosen out of the recently announced 40 finalists representing 15 countries and two grand prizes will be awarded for the Best Retail Product and the Best Hotel/Restaurant/Catering (HORECA) Product. Four special awards will be presented for innovation, convenience, retail packaging and seafood product line.
Networking opportunities and special onsite experiences will consist of an International Beer Bar in Hall 3, a Wine Bar featuring chilled seafood tastings and a lounge with a free professional headshot station, both in Hall 1. A new networking event and reception, Connecting Women in Seafood, taking place on Wednesday 24 April from 17:00-18:00 at the Wine Bar in Hall 1 will provide attendees a space to connect, share experiences and expand their professional network as Seafood Expo Global works to create a more inclusive and thriving seafood industry.
An educational conference program will include a keynote address from Mark Blyth, The William R. Rhodes ’57 Professor of International Economics, The Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. In his keynote presentation on Wednesday, 24 April at 12:00, Blyth will address short-, medium-, and long-term topics of relevance to the global seafood community – from the November 2024 U.S. election to inflation to decarbonization of the economy in different regions of the world.
More than 25 informative conference sessions will be led by 90 world experts in the industry. Conference presentations and panels will cover a range of topics including aquaculture, sustainability, food safety and compliance policy, traceability and transparency, climate change, labor issues and governance, the impacts and implications of IUU fishing and more.
The complete conference program can be found on the event website at https://www.seafoodexpo.com/global/conference-program/.
For further information about Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, and to register, visit: www.seafoodexpo.com/global.
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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