Alimentaria 2010 surpassed the expectations both the quantity and the quality of the professionals attending the event, which in the words of the organizers is an "injection of optimism" for a sector such as the agri-food of great economic importance in the future.

Participating companies, approximately 4,000 signatures from 75 countries, very positively assessed the large influx of international professionals, more than 36,000 people from 155 countries, 9% more than expected initially. Foreign visitors accounted for 25% of the total, which means that you one in four visitors came from outside our country.

Josep Lluís Bonet, Chairman of food and Fira de Barcelona, emphasized that food 2010 had met with more than their expectations thanks to a great effort of two years of preparation. "A success and not improvised", said after showing his satisfaction on how the Hall in an edition that was expected to "particularly decisive" had passed. "Food has been the force and energy of its fair model, as well as a strategic sector for the economy of the country," he stressed Bonet.

Bonet also highlighted the "great platform of internationalization that food has proven in thousands of agri-food companies that have their unique way of foreign promotion in the Hall". Also, the President on food expressed appreciation for the support and the presence of the Princes of Asturias, who inaugurated the 18th Edition of food together with the Minister of environment, Rural and marine, Elena Espinosa; the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, José Montilla; and the Minister of agriculture, Alimentació i Acció Rural, Joaquim Llena, among other authorities.

For j. Antonio Valls, director of food and Deputy director-general of food Exhibitions, Alimentaria 2010 has established itself as "the great opportunity for the food sector Spanish make contacts and business through international projects, inter alia that the Hall has put at the disposal of exhibitors". More than 8,000 meetings took place in these business meetings organized as a result of the collaboration between the Organization of the Hall, IFLA (food and drink industries Federation) and Icex. They were joined by numerous bilateral meetings carried out by ACC1Ó of the Generalitat of Catalonia and other relevant institutions in the sector. The success of these meetings between Spanish manufacturers and international distributors contributed no doubt increased by 30 per cent of the food budget for the international promotion, which is "clearly beneficial in times of crisis and extremely useful for building the future", concludes Valls.

More than 400 companies involved in the program by ACC1Ó

More than 400 companies participated in the framework of food in the programme of activities designed by ACC1Ó, the Agency in support of the competitiveness of the company attached to the Departament d'Innovació, universities, Catalan company of the Generalitat of Catalonia, in order to bring closer them to new business opportunities in the world.

One of the star was the first edition of the ' food 2010 Brokerage Event', held on 23 and 24 March, which counted 430 interviews among more than 200 companies, technological centres and universities in ten European countries. Contacts, promoted from ACC1Ó-Enterprise Europe Network Catalonia, were made in order to find business partners and technological Europe.

In addition, the directors of the centres of promotion of business (CPN) ACC1Ó kept for 25 and 26 March around 100 interviews with entrepreneurs to advise them in their projects of introduction to foreign markets of Japan, GermanyPersian Gulf, South Africa, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, China (Hong Kong), United Kingdom, Ireland, France, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The sector where more business opportunities were detected was the gourmet, followed by the wine and cava, ecological and biological products the sausage halal, ingredients, additives and prepared and fresh fruit.

Values and attributes of the brands and the perception of them by the consumer starred in the International Forum of food with a model that together the theory of the study of Synovate ' today expect consumer brands. The role of the manufacturer as a brand manager ', with the practice of actual cases of success as the releases of Danacol (Danone), Nespresso (Nestle), individual of Campofrío pizzas or salads and dishes prepared from Isabel - all them compiled by the Institute International San Telmo - and a panel discussion with some of the main food of the country.

For its part, the International Congress of the Mediterranean diet, developed several talks on major food which it is composed, as well as their evolution and current status, but the highlight was the reformulation of the traditional nutritional pyramid.