Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest seafood trade event, closes its 30th edition with record numbers, becoming the largest edition in its history. Diversified Communications, organizer of the meeting, estimates that more than 35,000 buyers and suppliers from the global seafood industry attended the event in its third year in Barcelona.
With 51,248 net square metres of exhibition space, the event hosted a record 2,244 seafood and processing equipment exhibitors from 87 different countries and 67 national and regional pavilions. With the extension to Hall 1, this year’s edition has occupied Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Gallery (between Halls 4 and 5) of the Gran VÃa venue. The economic impact for the city is estimated at more than €156 million.
“The industry relies on this event to achieve its annual business goals in the global market. Exhibitors and visitors alike use this platform as a place to meet with their existing customers, find new ones, build new relationships, and expand their industry knowledge,” said Wynter Courmont, Vice President of Seafood at Diversified Communications USA. “It’s been exciting to feel the hustle and bustle in the exhibition halls.”
Exhibitors at Seafood Expo Global showcased the latest innovations in seafood – fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed and packaged – such as seafood sweets such as salmon candies and prawn lollipops, fish chips, pickled wakame seaweed or seafood spreads. Seafood Processing Global has brought together companies representing all aspects of seafood processing, including packaging material and machinery, refrigeration and freezing equipment and supplies, primary and secondary processing equipment, hygienic and sanitary control, and quality assurance services.
This year’s edition saw an increase in the number of companies showcasing aquaculture technologies and equipment and logistics companies, as well as high-volume buyers from the retail, catering and distribution sectors, participating in the event’s key buyer programme, including: AEON Topvalu Co, Ltd (Japan), Aldi (Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom), Bidfood (Australia, Latvia, Estonia, Netherlands, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Spain), Brakes/Constellation (United Kingdom), Colruyt (Belgium), Coop (United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland), Costco (United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom), Delhaize (Belgium), Elior (France, United Kingdom), Emart Inc. (South Korea), Galati Group (Australia), Giant Eagle (United States), HelloFresh (UK, Germany, Spain), IKEA (Germany, Sweden), Lidl (Germany, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Greece), Lotte Mart (South Korea), Metro (France, Serbia, North Czechia, Moldova, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy), Qatar Airways (Qatar), Royal Caribbean Group (US), Snowfox Group (UK), Sysco (UK, Italy, France, Hong Kong), etc.
Latest trends in products, innovations and technologies to boost the seafood sector
Sustainability, aquaculture, labour issues, artificial intelligence and traceability were some of the most prominent topics discussed in the conference programme of the three days of the event.
The prestigious Seafood Excellence Global Awards have recognised the best products represented at the Expo, with French companies Parcs Saint Kerber and Algolesko taking home top prizes. Parcs Saint Kerber won the award for best retail product for its trio of Saint Kerber oysters, which includes four oysters from each of the company’s three icons in a single box. Algolesko has won the grand prize for best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) product for its wakame pickles, which offer chefs a new and unique way to present seaweed on the menu.
“We wanted to exhibit at Seafood Expo Global this year because our company is expanding into new markets with the acquisitions of our Canadian snow crab and lobster companies, and this is the perfect place to launch new products in these categories and talk to customers face-to-face,” said John Knorr, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Phillips Seafoods. “This event allows us to meet and talk to our customers, get their feedback on new products, and catch up on their goals for the year ahead. There’s a huge crowd of people, so it becomes the place to be to be to be able to talk to customers. Whether it’s a small company that’s just starting out, or a large company, it’s very important for us to be present at this event, to see what the trends are, what they want and what consumers are talking about.”
For the first time, the Expo hosted the “Connecting Women in Seafood” reception and networking event, which provided attendees with a space to connect, share experiences and expand their professional network with one goal in mind: to create a more inclusive and thriving seafood industry.
For the third year in a row, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global has partnered with the Barcelona Food Bank to collect seafood donated by exhibitors. Volunteers have toured the exhibition halls to collect seafood in refrigerated vehicles.
The next edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place in Barcelona, from 6 to 8 May 2025, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran VÃa venue. www.seafoodexpo.com/global.
