Magazine: SIAL 2010 – more exhibitors, fewer visitors

At this year’s SIAL in Paris 5,700 exhibitors were present from 106 countries – 200 more than in 2008. Although the Agricultural Marketing Centre did not support Hungarian companies’ participation, there were 12 Hungarian stands. 136,500 professional visitors were registered (in 2008 there were 147,860) and 62 percent of them were from foreign countries; 45 percent worked in retail, 18 percent came from the culinary and public catering sector and 32 percent represented the food sector. Fifteen events and shows were organised, together with 250 presentations, meetings and debates; 985 product innovations were presented. Xavier Terlet, president of market research company XTC World Innovation and SIAL advisor told that the food industry had to face more critical behaviour from consumers, who would like to make their autonomous shopping decisions in the future. Customers of our days want transparency and easily understandable information – they detest everything that they find too complex. At the same time, they trust manufacturers who provide them with clear and objective information about products. At SIAL 2010 the trends of the near future were given highlighted attention: ‘ultra’ products are gaining ground against boring ones, exotic flavours are used more widely, consumers wish to cook from the same ingredients at home as master chefs use in their restaurants, the spreading of ‘super’fruits and vegetables. The following Hungarian companies were present with a stand: Agrosprint Kft., ERU Hungária Sajtgyártó Kft., Felföldi Kft., Frigo Erd Kft., Gilan Kft, Hone–World Kft., Kőröstej Kft., Ligo Trade Kft., MIRELITE MIRSA Zrt., Nobilis Kft., Pentafrost Kft., PM World Trade Kft. Trade magazin was member of the international SIAL d’Or jury, guaranteeing the participation of Hungarian products in the competition for its partners.

This year Hungarian products entered the competition in 9 categories; in Paris Trade magazin’s representative personally presented the Hungarian category winners to the representatives of the other 29 participating countries. MIRELITE MIRSA’s quick frozen, chopped bear’s garlic won the SIAL d’Or Magyarország 2010 Award (Country Awards). József Losó, MIRELITE MIRSA’s CEO personally collected the award in Paris. Miklós Ostermayer, managing director of ERU Hungária Kft. told us that they participated in SIAL for the second time, at the stand of their Dutch parent company Royal ERU. There was interest for their products from many countries, from Cameroun through Israel to South Korea.