Held in Barcelona for the third time, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest seafood trade show, closed its 30th edition with record breaking figures, making it the largest edition in the history of the event.
Diversified Communications, organiser of the event, estimated 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 metres 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. The economic impact for the city is estimated to be more than €156 million.
“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 logistics companies, as well as high-volume buyers from the retail, foodservice and distribution taking part in the event’s Key Buyer programme, 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.
The Seafood Excellence Global Awards recognised 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 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.
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global again partnered with Barcelona Food Bank, Banc dels Aliments to collect 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.
