The Spanish food industry maintains excellent links with the United Kingdom, an upward trend in recent years driven by the country´s interest in Spanish products, given their taste and quality. This appeal is reflected in the growing number of British professionals participating at each Alimentaria trade show every year.
Alimentaria 2020, which will be held from 20th to 23rd April at Fira de Barcelona, is expecting an increasing number of British visitors compared to previous editions. In 2018, the United Kingdom ranked sixth country in terms visitors at the exhibition.
From a buyers’ side, British food leaders are expected to participate in the event, such as Harrod’s, Bidfood, Groupon, Cook’s Delights, Leathams, Winterbotham Darby, Iberica Food&Culture and Cranswick Continental Food.
The UK is the fourth largest recipient country of Spanish food exports, according to the FIAB (Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation). Only in 2018, 6.7% of Spain’s foreign food sales were shipped to the UK, accounting for a total of €2.037 billion.
The food and drinks industry now represent 11% of Spain’s total good exports and is valued at €27 billion. Meat is the most in-demand product with an export value of €4.42 billion. Spain is also the leading producer of olive oil, as the country produces half of the world’s total olive oil and exports 46% of its production to other countries.
More tasty opportunities for Britain
Data shows UK companies also seem more interested in increasing their business in Spain. According to statistics provided by the FDEA (Food & Drink Exporters Association) in the United Kingdom, Spain is the sixth largest destination for British food and beverage exports, which were valued at €1,108 billion in 2018, a figure representing an increase of 2.5% over the previous year.
Jose Antonio Valls, managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, explained: “Participating as exhibitors at the leading food industry trade show gives British companies a great opportunity to increase their sales in the Spanish market, where the UK food and beverage sector still has a lot of growth potential.”
Alimentaria returns with new exhibition spaces
A new feature for 2020 will be the incorporation of the Alimentaria Trends exhibition area, which will display the latest trends in production and consumption, such as gourmet/delicatessen foods (Fine Foods), organic production (Organic Foods), allergen-free products (Free From), halal production (Halal Foods) and functional products (Functional Foods).
Alimentaria is Spain’s leading food sector and Horeca exhibition, as well as in Southern Europe, and considered in the top three best food exhibitions in the world. Once more, Alimentaria and Hostelco – the International Exhibition of Equipment for Catering and Hospitality equipment – will be held together in 2020 to exhibit a comprehensive and cross-cutting range of food, gastronomy and hospitality equipment to the distribution chain and the Horeca channel. They will also jointly organise workshops, gastronomic lessons and cooking show sessions, making the event one of the largest trade show platforms in the world of hospitality and food sectors.
