As happened to Mobile many years ago and is beginning to take shape at the ISE, Seafood, the world's largest fair dedicated to seafood, is growing thanks to Fira de Barcelona. So much so that in its second edition at the Gran Via de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat venue it will reach its record for exhibition space.
This Tuesday the 29th edition of the event started with queues to enter the halls, which brings together 2,078 exhibiting companies from 87 different countries. It has 49,339 net square meters of exhibition space. It was never that big.
The figure for exhibition space means a growth of 21% compared to its largest edition to date, which took place in a pre-pandemic 2019, still in Brussels. Also an increase of 24% compared to last year, already in Barcelona. In 2022, 26,500 visitors were exceeded, a figure that will presumably be exceeded this week.
“Absolutely, Barcelona has helped us grow,” says Liz Plizga, president of Diversified Communications USA, the organizing company. “In Brussels we had reached our peak,” she recalls. De Barcelona values the great experience in organizing events of these characteristics, the Fira facilities, its restaurant offer and the atmosphere to socialize once the doors of the pavilions are closed. "It's more comfortable," she sums up.
Another "very important" favor in landing in Barcelona is the expansion project of Fira Gran Via. “A fair is coming together that aims to continue growing with a space that will grow”, says Liz Plizga. The organization calculates an economic impact of more than 150 million euros for the city in an event that will end this Thursday.
In the halls, new trends in the sector are perceived, such as more innovative flavors, also more spicy, higher quality and ready-to-eat foods.
