Since 1964, SIAL Paris has gradually established itself as one of the leading trade fairs for all companies involved in the global agribusiness, whether retail, foodservice or related services. This year, the trade fair celebrates its 50th edition and has in store several special events, detailed below.
SIAL has always relied on innovation as a key differentiating factor among trade fairs, as well as a means to attract more visitors from countries all over the world.
“We have created an edition that is more ambitious and more complete, as it integrates Equipment, Technologies and Services. Professionals in the sector have decided to enjoy the specialized business we can bring them, and we have met their expectations. We are also going to give more visibility to fresh products, through improved valorization of the fruit and vegetable sector. Visitors and exhibitors will discover plenty of entertainment to celebrate the 50th anniversary of SIAL. Also new is the World Tour by SIAL. We have asked 30 journalists from all over the world to come and highlight the main consumption trends in their countries. Maintaining the benchmarking spirit, we will present Foodies 2.0 by Sopexa, on 20 October on SIAL TV. It is about decoding social web trends, with key sector players taking part”, said Nicolas Trentesaux, SIAL Group director.
Retail – the dynamic sector
Retail repesentatives from over 200 countries will attend this year’s SIAL, according to the organizers, from all formats of this segment, whether small retailers or large hypermarket chains, distributors and suppliers, hard discounters or central buying organizations. So what does the 2014 SIAL has on offer for the retail world?
• SIAL Innovation – since 2 out of 3 visitors are actively interested in novelties in this field, the especially designated area of product innovation will once again be the center of attention during the event. The organizers estimate that one out of every two exhibitors come up with innovative own label products, and a selection of these will be showcased at the SIAL Innovation stand.
• Le Marché by SIAL – organizers say that 25,000 of buyers declared some interest for fruit and vegetables, of which almost 60% come from major retailers, which is why the SIAL Marketplace will continue to highlight the fruit and vegetables sector, in order to attract buyers within the sector and enable producers to enter new markets.
• World Tour by SIAL – a project which aims to identify trends in terms of consumption in 28 main markets in the world over 5 continents: consumption trends (the drivers of the consumption in different markets) and market trends (the latest retail initiatives). This map of the world agri-food business will help SIAL d´Or, now referred to as World Tour by SIAL, to go one step further.
Foodservice trend guide for caterers
According to the latest data provided by the organizers, among the 150,000 visitors from the foodservice sector expected to attend in 2014, almost 20% (approximately 30,000), are restaurant and catering professionals.
So what has SIAL in store for them? Since it’s the 50th edition, the event will celebrate with 50 of the best known chefs in France, working at and managing some of the most respected Michelin decorated restaurants in the country. Led by Christian Le Squer, a the three-starred chef says he is ‘honoured’ to have been invited, “firstly because this is a historic fair which is not only about agri-business and mass market retail products, but also the fresh produce which I like to use. Furthermore, it is a way of keeping up to date with the trends and developments in the food sector and not just in France, but on an international level”. The entire team of 50 chefs will hold live cooking demonstrations, as well as network with visitors and exchange ideas about food ingredients and innovations.
Going further along on this idea, La Cuisine by SIAL is a segment that has been present since the last edition at the trade fair and will continue in 2014. The concept is simple: a VIP restaurant, revealing bold and creative recipes to the exhibitors and their guests. This year, SIAL Paris has invited the starred chefs Frédéric Jaunault, Cyril Arachequesne, Laurent André, Nicolas Isnard, Hervé Rodriguez, who will make themselves comfortable behind the range cooker of this enormous kitchen, and will work with the most innovative products at SIAL Paris, incorporating them in gastronomic menus.
“Today, nearly one third of its exhibitors offer products related to catering – from ingredients to processed products including fresh produce – and a breakdown of specific restaurant and catering product innovations, which explains the presence of players in the catering industry from all over the world and from all areas of the industry: mass catering (10.8%), commercial catering (36%), restaurant and catering retailers and wholesalers (44%), caterers (9.2%)”, said the SIAL director.
Finally, in addition to meetings and new findings at the fair, SIAL TV will broadcast live and online numerous programs dedicated to all areas of the industry, with sets that are meant to bring together professionals, experts, politicians and personalities who will speak about subjects relating to the current agribusiness sector.
Frozen Food Europe magazine will be present at the trade fair and will bring you information about the latest trends that will shape consumer behavior patterns, in both retail and foodservice. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for live updates from SIAL 2014!