Trade fairs from Riga to Chicago

Grüne Woche, 18-27 January 2013, Berlin: Grüne Woche was first held in 1926 and the next year will be the 78th time that this food, agriculture and gardening trade fair will take place. Recently organic produce, renewable energy, rural development and fair trade products have started to receive increased attention – in 2012 from 420,000 visitors. This time Netherlands will be the partner country.

• The Hospitality Show, 21-23 January 2013, Birmingham: The Hospitality Show takes place every second year and in 2013 it will focus on food and drinks, equipment, interiors and technology. Chef competition Salon Culinaire will also be part of the programme.

• ISM, 27-30 January 2013, Cologne: Those with a sweet tooth better stay at home as ISM is the place where the world’s biggest confectionery and biscuit manufacturers congregate. This time the organisers forecast 1,400 exhibitors from 70 countries; the partner country will be Russia. New products will be presented as part of a great show and there will be a Newcomer corner for first-time participants.

• Fruit Logistica, 6-8 February 2013, Berlin: If you are interested in fresh vegetables, fruits and related trends or you are looking for a trading partner, this is the place to go. Importers, exporters, farmers, retailers and wholesalers, packaging and transportation companies will all be there. In 2012 2,533 exhibitors from 83 countries presented their goods and services to 56,000 visitors.

• BioFach, 13-16 February 2013, Nuremberg: Together with the Vivaness trade fair, BioFach has become one of the leading organic food and product exhibitions. More than two thirds of the 2,400 exhibitors are from abroad and visitors come from 130 countries. The event is also held in the USA, South America, China and India.

• EuroCIS, 19-21 February 2013, Düsseldorf: In the field of retail technological innovations concentrate on mobile solutions and according to the organisers retailers are willing to finance new developments. Last year EuroCIS broke previous records with 6,400 visitors; there were 234 exhibitors from 25 countries.

• ProWein, 24-26 March 2013, Düsseldorf: Wines and alcoholic beverages are the main profile of this trade fair that attracted more than 40,000 visitors in 2012, when 3,930 exhibitors showed what they had to offer. Organisers expect even bigger numbers for 2013 and tickets for the event can already be bought online.

• Gastropan, 11-14 April 2013, Bucharest: Gastropan is a trade fair for the baking industry, the confectionery and the culinary sector. For the first time the event will be four days long. The programme will include competitions and voting on the bread, cake and ice cream of the year.

• Alimentaria & Horexpo, 14-17 April 2013, Lisbon: Three events held under the same roof: Alimentaria is a groceries trade fair, Horexpo deals with kitchen and bar equipment, hotel decoration, vending, technology and services and coffee-related products, while Tecnoalimentaria shows the different sides (technology, machinery, etc.) of food processing, production and packaging. There will be another event later in Mexico, but with fewer participants.

• GlobalShop, 16-18 April 2013, Chicago: GlobalShop is the world’s biggest annual show for packaging and at-retail advertising and marketing. There are six sections: the store fixturing show, the visual merchandising show, store design and operations, the digital store, at-retail marketplace and retail marketing services.

.• PLMA, 28-29 May 2013, Amsterdam: Last year not only Amsterdam but Shanghai also hosted the event, but at the moment there is no date set for the 2013 China show. To Amsterdam 3,800 exhibitors are expected, including 42 national and regional pavilions. The majority of visitors are the decision-makers of retail chains but wholesalers, importers and exporters will also be there. An ‘Idea Supermarket’ will be part of the programme, showcasing packaging and other solutions in a shop.

• Riga Food, 4-7 September 2013, Riga: Hungary was present at last year’s Riga Food with a national stand. It is the most prestigious food industry gathering of the Baltic region where 589 exhibitors from 50 countries present their products and services to 37,000 visitors. A comprehensive trade fair of food products, beverages, technological and packaging solutions, research and development.

• Speciality Fine Food Fair, 8-10 September 2013, London: The English definitely know how to treat fine food: this is the trade fair where delicatessen products, be it food or drink, are in the limelight. There will be a special section dedicated to chocolate and special chocolate base desserts.

• Anuga, 5-9 October 2013, Cologne: True to its traditions, in 2013 Anuga will bring together ten pioneering trade fairs under one roof. The event will focus on ten major themes next year: gourmet products and regional specialties, Arabic food, organic products, vegetarian food, healthy and functional products, kosher food, finger food, private label products, spices and herbs and fair trade products.

• Seafood Barcelona, 22-24 October 2013, Barcelona: Another trade event by the organisers of Alimentaria, showcasing fish and other fruits of the sea for the second time. The majority of participants are Spanish fisheries and the sourcing managers of large retail chains.