Montreal -- Show organizers are projecting increases in all key metrics for the second edition of SIAL Montreal, to be held here on April 2 to 4. The food and beverage trade show is on track to host 800 exhibitors from around the world, on a total of 200,000 square feet of space. The square footage represents a 15% increase over SIAL Montreal's debut show in 2001, according to the show's director general, Alain Bellefeuille.
by Paris-based Exposium, which also sponsors the biannual SIAL Paris food and beverage trade show as well as exhibitions in China, Singapore and South America. SIAL Montreal is the company's first foray into the North American market.
Attendees at SIAL Montreal will be able to view the latest food and beverage products from nearly 50 countries, including Russia, France, Spain, Italy and Pakistan, as well as countries throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to Bellefeuille. "We're also international in terms of the buyers attending the show: The 2001 edition had buyers from 71 countries," he said, adding that he expects attendees from as many as 80 countries will attend the 2003 show.
New products from around the globe will be unveiled at SIAL Montreal, including pastries covered in pure Belgian chocolate, instant rice and noodle dishes from China, Moldavian wines and Thai spices. The Espace Innovations area will spotlight new and innovative products from a wide range of countries.
In addition, key elements of Canada's food industry will be represented, both in the Aliments Quebec kiosk, featuring 70 specialized producers, and the Atlantic Pavilion, with products from the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
In addition to individual exhibitors from the United States, companies will be grouped in a U.S. Department of Agriculture pavilion that is more than twice as large as the 2001 pavilion: 3,400 square feet in 2003, up from 1,600 square feet.
SIAL Montreal will also host regional pavilions, such as the Andean economic consortium, which includes Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.
While Bellefeuille noted that SIAL Montreal is more focused on trade than education, there will be a number of informational offerings. A conference organized by the Canadian government, scheduled for Friday morning, April 4, will cover four key topics:
Economic trends in the NAFTA countries.
Canadian food-safety regulations.
Strategic investment as a way to increase international trade.
A U.S. Customs Service presentation titled "United States Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: When Will Benefits Begin?
In addition, a representative of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will offer a briefing on new Canadian import policies and risk-based inspection, including information on new technology and new bio-safety requirements.
Bellefeuille stressed the international nature of the show as a key element of its appeal: "The SIAL difference is that we are one of the only shows to offer distribution organizations access to the world market."
