SIAL throws its doors open on 19-23 October to another wave of decision-makers, products and key retail experts. ESM reports.
As far as trade shows go, SIAL is not to be missed. Created in 1964 in Paris, SIAL is the world benchmark for players in the retail industry. In 2014, SIAL celebrates 50 years of expertise in the food business and innovation, and there are a whole raft of events being held to celebrate this, with innovation, as always, key.
Over 150,000 visitors are expected to come along and see the 6,000+ exhibitors from many different countries. Offering exclusive access to manufacturers behind cutting-edge products set to revolutionise retail over the coming years, SIAL offers the ideal environment for stakeholders all across the retail industry to meet important decision-makers and professionals, all the while strengthening the offer on store shelves.
The expo goes a long way to revealing the trends and innovations that shape the food industry of tomorrow. Acting as a global business hub, it provides excellent ROI, top-quality buyers and a unique, real-life ‘market test’ opportunity, where visitors are often some of the most important people in retail.
“We are paying particular attention to visitor convenience,” explains Jérôme Hunault, SIAL group logistics and security director. “From the outset, we have always listened to their views, and this year, the visitor conditions will once again be significantly improved, thanks, in particular, to a greater RER service, the establishment of SIAL shuttles, the creation of interactive rest areas, the quadrupling of Internet capacity, and a personalised welcome service.”
A logistical project on a mammoth scale, SIAL produces impressive results on both attendance and presentation standards. With 100% of the Paris Nord Villepinte halls being used, SIAL 2014 is spread out over 240,000 square metres. Nearly 10,000 vehicles are used to fit out the exhibit, and 35,000 people work together on site on the eve of the opening.
“Another mission: we are committed to being eco-friendly and have relayed ten duties to the exhibitors and visitors,” explains Hunault. “Amongst these obligations is, of course, the sorting of waste, which amounts to 1,400 tonnes for the full duration of the fair, but also a recovery system for participant badges at the end of each day.” With this year being the 50th anniversary of the show, it’s only natural that SIAL enjoys increased exposure. “We might even call it fervour,” explained Chantal de Lamotte, deputy commercial director at SIAL, over the summer. “Ninety-six [96] per cent of the 6,000 exhibitors expected [had] already confirmed their attendance [by] mid-July!”
SIAL was created at around the same time as the common agricultural market, in the mid-1960s, and today the expo enjoys an audience from farther afield than just France or Europe, with a presence on almost every continent: North America, South America, the Middle East and Asia. “It is, therefore, this knowledge of international markets, local specificities and the development of consumption patterns, which, I think, constitutes one of the key factors to SIAL’s success,” said Lamotte.
ESM will be at the show again this year, experiencing all the latest and greatest in French retail, with a renewed focus on fresh being key to many people’s interest. “Today, one of the key international issues is to know where the product comes from, how to safeguard traceability and to prevent food crises,” said Lamotte. “This is one of the reasons why we were keen to give raw produce a greater role in our 2014 event, particularly fruit and vegetables, which will feature in a large number of the scheduled activities, hence the return of Interfel, the French interprofessional organisation for fresh fruit and vegetables.” Interfel is taking advantage of the 50th anniversary to make a comeback at SIAL. As Sophie Pedrosa-Varanda, manager of advertising, promotion and events at Interfel, says, “The willingness of the SIAL organisers to give particular focus to fresh produce and the fruit and vegetables sector helped us make this decision. Indeed, SIAL provides an extraordinary opportunity to meet foreign businesses. We, therefore, want to take advantage of it to promote and highlight French products to foreign contacts, with the aim of gaining market share.”
However, it is when we look beyond the boundaries of France that we truly see the value and expertise that SIAL Paris enjoys. Thanks to a unique blend of national and international decision-makers, one can make new contacts, find new suppliers and partners, and explore the innovative offerings on display.
Address: Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord VillepinteShow Times: Sunday 19 October to Thursday 23 October 2014, from 09.30 to 18.00 (17.00 on Thursday) Exhibition Sectors: Beverages, Cured Meats, Tinned and Preserved Products, Grocery Products, Gourmet Foods, Fruit and Veg, Organic Products, Seafood Products, Wine, Health Products and Food Supplements, Dairy Products, Frozen Foods, Bakery, Pastry and Confectionery, Delicatessen, MeatDid You Know ...? More than 81,000 retail professionals visited SIAL in 2012. //More than 36,000 food manufacturing professionals visited SIAL in 2012.
