The 40th edition of Macfrut saw a record number of foreign attendees: over 300 exhibitors, i.e.50% more than 2022. And there are sill two months to go. The first edition was organized in Cesena in 1984, a time when the hub occupied a leading position worldwide as the entire chain attended.
"We trust the number of exhibitors will increase and will easily exceed 900. We increased the exhibition space by 25% also thanks to the larger area dedicated to the dynamic segment," explains Renzo Piraccini president of Cesena Fiera.
A 25% increase in exhibition space means that the event will exceed the 2019 edition, the one before the pandemic, so much so that, for the first time, Macfruit will include the halls in the West area of Fiera di Rimini. The expansion was due to an increased number of exhibitors as well as to the growth of thematic areas starting with pre-harvesting, with two entire halls dedicated to the latest introductions concerning nurseries, blueberries and Acquacampus, with salons for Spices and Officinal Herbs and Biosolutions.
The second asset is the considerable growth at international level (+50%) with some areas seeing a considerable expansion: South America, on which the 2023 edition will focus; North Africa, and Egypt in particular; Sub-Saharan Africa; the Middle East. China will also be back after a few years, with around 30 exhibitors.
The help of ICE-Agenzia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), as well as that of numerous bodies and institutions, was fundamental, as they enabled the organization of 20 international presentations in three continents.
"We are very optimistic about this 40th edition. The format is successful because Macfrut is a fair unlike any others, as knowledge and networking go hand in hand with the business aspect. This is a strategy that is attracting a lot of interest, especially by medium-sized companies wanting to learn about the various innovations in the different segments on top of meeting clients and suppliers."