Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global (SEG/SPG) 2023, the world’s largest trade expo for the seafood industry, reached a record in terms of exhibit space, number of exhibiting companies and total attendance for its second year in the Spanish city.
Organiser Diversified Communications estimated that more than 33,000 buyers and suppliers from the global seafood industry attended the event, 24% more than in 2022.
It said the three-day event exceeded all expectations, with 2,078 exhibiting companies from 87 different countries, 68 national and regional pavilions and an economic impact for the city estimated at €150 million. With 49,339 square metres of exhibit space, 24% more than in 2022 and 21% more than the previous largest event (held in Brussels in 2019), this year’s SEG/SPG represents the largest edition ever held in the expo’s history, in terms of size and attendance.
Diversified Communications USA President Liz Plizga said it had been a busy and productive three days, filled with opportunities for decision makers in the seafood industry to gather and conduct business.
“The unprecedented number of visitors along with a record in exhibit space continue to position Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global as the must-attend global event in the industry,” she said. “Exhibitors and visitors told us how pleased they were with the event’s exhibits and content, the venue and the city of Barcelona. The expo is a valuable platform for the industry to do business on a global scale.”
High-volume buyers from the retail, foodservice and distribution have taken part in the event’s Key Buyer programme, including: Aldi (Austria, Germany, Ireland and Spain), Auchan (France and Portugal), Bidfood (Australia, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Czechia, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand and Slovakia), Brakes (UK), Coop (Switzerland, UK, Italy and Denmark), Costco (US, Canada, Spain and UK), Delhaize (Belgium), Foodbuy Foodservice (UK), Groupo Eroski (Spain), HelloFresh (Spain, Netherlands, UK and Germany), Kaufland (Croatia and Germany), Lidl (UK and Spain), Loblaw (Canada), Marks and Spencer (UK), Metro (Turkey, Serbia, Austria, Czechia, Ukraine, Romania, Hong Kong, France, Germany and Hungary), Ocean Basket (South Africa and Kazakhstan), REWE Far East (Hong Kong, Thailand, Turkey and Germany), Sodexo (UK, France, Spain and Italy), Sysco (UK, France, Ireland, and Hong Kong), Transgourmet (Germany, Spain, Austria and Switzerland) and Walmart (US and China).
SEG/SPG featured the latest seafood products from suppliers from around the globe, and highlighted current trends in processing and packaging equipment, quality control, food safety and food hygiene services, while the Seafood Excellence Global Awards recognised the best products at the expo.
Spain’s Vičiūnai Group was awarded Best Retail Product for its Black Sepia Dumplings with Shrimp and Thai Broth Filling. Unima Distribution (France) received the prize for Best HoReCa Product (Hotel/Restaurant/Catering) for its Organic Body-Peeled Madagascar Shrimp.
SEG exhibitors showcased the most recent innovations in seafood – fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed and packaged – to seafood buyers from around the world, and SPG 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.
The next Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place in Barcelona, 23-25 April 2024, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue.
