Alimentaria Lisboa 2009 concludes with a positive balance sheet
Renovation of the collaboration between Alimentaria Exhibitions and FIL
The International Food and Beverages Exhibition has shown itself to be a benchmark for foreign buyers of Portuguese food and beverage products, belying signs of crisis in the sector. The show, organized by Alimentaria Exhibitions and FIL, is consolidated as one of the most important shows in the fairground European panorama.
Alimentaria Lisboa 2009 concluded the last 22nd. April with very positive results in terms of the goals set by the organisers. Over four days, the most important food and beverage exhibition on the Iberian Peninsula in 2009 brought together more than 32,000 visitors, 2,000 brands and close to a thousand exhibitors from 32 countries at the AIP/FIL (Parque das Nações de Lisboa) fairground.
According to FIL Managing Director Javier Galiana, who was in charge of the first edition of Alimentaria Lisboa in the 1990s, ‘This edition of Alimentaria marked a change and was proof that we have identified the correct strategy by including the food service sector again, among other changes. The organisers fulfilled the goals set for this edition, and the success of the project will be reflected in the next edition of Alimentaria Lisboa in 2011. 25,632 buyers took part, 2,860 of whom came from other countries, and the exhibition was held in a dynamic and professional environment which resulted in a significant amount of business being conducted. This makes it possible for me to characterise this edition as a great Alimentaria Lisboa,’ the director concluded.
During the opening of the 10th edition of the event, Secretary of Trade, Services and Consumers’ Rights Fernando Serrasqueiro said that he was ‘impressed by the examples of confidence, dynamism and hope present at this edition of Alimentaria, despite the present climate of global recession.’
Further commitment to the foreign buyers programme
The initial aim of making Alimentaria Lisboa a benchmark event for foreign buyers of Portuguese products, particularly those from Portuguese-speaking countries, was clearly achieved with the success of the foreign buyers programme.
AIP/FIL and Alimentaria Exhibitions invested heavily in this programme to attract foreign professionals, resulting in more than 200 business meetings and gatherings among close to 60 foreign buyers and 180 companies.The dynamism of the exhibitors was a determining factor in the number of meetings held with invited buyers, who came to this year’s edition from thirty different countries.
The additional commitment to the foreign buyers programme was based on a revision of the concept, “which revealed itself to be extremely productive and suited to the needs of the market, combining the interests and schedules of the supply and demand sides”, said Javier Galiana.
One example of the dynamism and importance of the international areas was Célio Santiago, head of Mé-Zóchi, a Santo Tomé company engaged in beverage production and food product distribution. This business owner closed deals valued at more than 250,000 euros with two dozen exhibitors in the wine, cheese, bread and rolls, preserves, sausage and sweets sectors, even establishing initial contacts for acquisition of a bottling, packaging and labelling lines for the beverage company.
As part of this commitment to repositioning Alimentaria Lisboa to focus on exports, more than 40 ambassadors and ministers were invited and received by the close to 80 companies that joined the organisation’s initiative.
The importance of Intervin in its national debut
For the first time, the exhibition included Intervin, the wine show, the result of collaboration with Alimentaria Barcelona, where it originated. This showcase for the excellence of the domestic wine-producing sector was extremely successful among the professionals at the exhibition, making the show one of the most highly praised for the professionalism of the operators and the quality of the products presented.
INNOVAL was a showcase for technological innovation in the sector
Already known by the professionals who visit Alimentaria Lisboa, the INNOVAL space was an exceptional showcase for the most recent launches in the food and beverage industry in the areas of product development, packaging and the quality of production processes. Co-ordinated by the APED (Portuguese acronym for the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies), the Intelligent Shop, part of the INNOVAL space, concentrated the most innovative technological offerings now available on the market or at the experimental stage.
WACS Global Chefs’ Challenge chose the Portuguese chef for the world final
Alimentaria Lisboa ’09 was the setting of the semi-final of the WACS Global Chefs’ Challenge competition, which was won by the Portuguese chef Carlos Gonçalves, together with his assistant Carlos Padeiro. In 2010, the Portuguese team will compete in the world final in Santiago de Chile, where the best chef in the world will be chosen.
The choice of Alimentaria Lisboa as the ideal setting for international cuisine was yet another reason for the organisers to be satisfied with the exhibition, and evidence of the confidence in the quality of the facilities and the team linked to the trade show.
Renovation of the collaboration between Alimentaria Exhibitions and FIL
Alimentaria Exhibitions and Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) signed in Alimentaria Lisboa the renovation of the contract for the celebration of this event until the year 2020. Close to the continuity in the organization of Alimentaria Lisboa, the agreement of collaboration between both fairground organizers includes also Horexpo's joint celebration - International Exhibition of Hotel management, Restoration and Vending-, and the development of new fairground products inside and out of the food-processing area.
For Francisco Carrió, managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions and Reed Exhibitions Iberia, this agreement signed "contributes to the stability that is going to allow consolidating the successful results of the past and the development of new and important projects of future ".
The agreement of cooperation between Alimentaria Exhibitions and FIL was signed by Francisco Carrió; António Alfaiate, executive manager of AIP-CE and Javier Galiana, FIL's managing director.
Successful partnerships
The organisers also highlighted the success of the activities taking part alongside the exhibition, such as conferences and seminars. These were an ever-present feature of Alimentaria Lisboa, and attracted the interest and participation of thousands of professionals.
These activities were organised by Alimentaria Lisboa in collaboration with the following bodies: ADIPA – Portuguese acronym for the Association of Food Product Distributors, TNS Worldpanel, GS1 Portugal, Workmedia – Hipersuper Magazine / Computerworld / CXO, AICC – Portuguese acronym for the Industrial and Commercial Coffee Association, ANCIPA – Portuguese acronym for the National Association of Food Product Dealers and Industries, Enterprise Europe Network PT (IAPMEI), Enterprise Europe Network Poland (PARP) and FoodIntech Lda / CIDEB-School of Advanced Biotechnology Studies.
Alimentaria Exhibitions
Communication and Press Department
Susana Santamaria / Xavier Bertomeu
Tel: + 93 452 11 04