The VIth Fruit Attraction Edition, the great event of vegetable and fruit products sector, organised by IFEMA and FEPEX and held on October 15-17 has amazed 40,528 professionals in the sector from 88 countries, increasing by 16% the visits in comparison to last edition. Business participation also increased by 25%, presenting 834 exhibitors from 18 countries, and 27% in terms of space, reaching 27,110 net squared metres of exhibition.
Regarding foreign visitors, there is an outstanding rising by 16%, totalling 6,696 professionals from 88 different countries. Visitors from Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland and Portugal numbered a 74% of the total figure of foreign visitors, confirming Fruit Attraction (#FA14) as a crucial commercial event for the European production.
In relation to this point, it is remarkable the participation of European exhibitors, especially from France, Italy, Poland and Portugal. There were also companies from Argentina, Chile, USA and Peru; and for the first time, from countries such as Korea or Turkey.
Nationally speaking, Fruit Attraction (#FA14) recorded a high participation from the main domestic producer areas: Aragón, Andalucía, Canarias, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y León, Cataluña, Comunidad Valenciana, Galicia, Murcia, Extremadura, La Rioja and Navarra, among others. Again, production was the most represented sector, meaning a 70% of the total supply, with 612 exhibitors occupying 19,449 squared metres. Assisting industry meant an important weight too, totalling a 30% of the supply: 222 exhibitors in 7,661 squared metres.
B2Fruit New Markets
For second year in a row, the space “B2BFruit New Markets” received more than 500 business meetings between exhibitors and buyers from new markets, this time Brazil, East countries, Middle East and Nordic countries. In summary, a space created for companies and buyers to meet in order to create opportunities for participants to make their best out of their investment.
Total success in Technical conferences programme
Concurrently to the commercial exhibition, Fruit Attraction (#FA14) was also the scenario to hold many activities and conferences, which offered a space of debate and experience exchange to more than 2,000 professionals who attended them.
A remarkable contribution was the symposium Fresh & Life organised by FEPEX and Fruit Attraction, of which aim was deepening in the advances within the fields of nutrition and research.
Additionally, one of the conferences in #FruitForum was the III International Congress of Seedless Grape, Grape Attraction, organised by Apoexpa, in collaboration with FEPEX and IFEMA. Research and innovation were also protagonists in two conferences organised by Inia (National institute of agricultural research) and FEPEX: “Tools for Agri-Food R+D Public Financing” and “Identification of research and innovation priorities”.
Among all the activities and in collaboration with “Mercados” journal, the III Alimarket Fruit Retail Conference took place; “Spanish wholesalers: reinventing the future”, coordinated by Horto del Poniente and “Details: estrategies and tools to sell more at your gfruit shop”, offered by AGR. Besides, and for the first time, the Lounge welcomed the I Latin American Forum of Agro-Food Journalists #FIPA14, organised by APAE, FEPEX and IFEMA.
Pasarela Innova and Foro Innova
Again this year, #PasarelaInnova meant an outstanding initiative. The aim of this space was to highlight the last novelties in products, varieties or brands that the exhibitor companies offered for the first time to vegetable and fruit market during the three-day lounge. This area exhibited 36 innovative products proposed by participants.
In the same line, #Foroinnova was the escenario for different presentations of novelties and products suggested by participants.
Besides, #FruitFusion, the gastronomic space organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and under the motto “Vanguard flavours”, became a forum for information, innovation and interpretation of the best vegetable and fruit products at the service of gastronomy. An initiative orientated to offer a greater presence to the exhibitors’ products, working as a great exhibition before Canal Horeca.
More than 27,000 kilos of vegetable and fruit products for the Food Bank of Madrid
Fruit Attraction (#FA14) helped, as it does since five years, on the vegetable and fruit collection from the exhibitors for the Food Bank of Madrid. Participants in this edition have collaborated with the Food Bank by providing more than 27,000 kilos of fruit and vegetable products for a solidary use. IFEMA and FEPEX also helped in the dissemination of this soliday event.
Fruit Attraction (#FA14) took place from October 15 to 17 in the building 3, 5, 7 and 9 of Feria de Madrid and it was inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina. The big meeting of the sector consolidates as an investment in the future of the international sector of vegetable and fruit products, placing solid working bases to reinforce next edition, to be held on October, 28-30, 2015.
