While the Expo Alimentaria was filled with fruit and vegetable companies two years ago, the event that will be held this week has clearly lost some of these companies, according to Anton Filippo from LBP Rotterdam.
“The fresh produce section is still clearly present, but it’s mostly companies active in processing, dehydrated fruit and IQF – the frozen sector. Whether that automatically means fewer fresh produce people will visit the fair is still unclear. Of course you’ll see Dutch companies walking around. Or companies from other European countries, and naturally South American, North American, Chinese and Southeast Asian representatives, even South African companies were seen.”
“The section with equipment and service providers has been moved to a separate (third) hall. That’s better for exhibitors, who otherwise have to stand next to a filling machine the whole day. I don’t know whether it’ll be better for the fair. It’s the first time that the Netherlands won’t have its own pavilion. The embassy tried to get one, but apparently there wasn’t enough interest,” Anton says. “In short, the Dutch fresh produce world appears to be a bit tired of fairs after Asia Fruit Logistica and before the Fruit Attraction and PMA.”
“It’s clear that Expo Alimentaria is still both a great fair and meeting-place, even without your own stand. I did meet some Dutch visitors, but they weren’t present in great numbers. That doesn’t affect Peru, which once again showed itself to the world as a fruit exporting country with an enormous future,” Anton concludes.
For more information:
Anton Filippo
L.B.P. Rotterdam BV
Honderdland 50,
2676 LS Maasdijk, NL
Tel: +31 (0)174 530 545
afi@lbprotterdam.nl
www.lbprotterdam.nl