The international food trade fair Alimentec kicks off in Columbia’s capital, Bogotá, on 8 June and runs until 11 June 2016. With two months still to go, organisers have been buoyed by the fact that bookings are 8% higher than they were at the same stage in 2014 – the most recent edition of Alimentec.
More than 200 companies across the food manufacturing industry are already primed and ready to unveil their products and oil the wheels of commerce in Bogotá.
“Alimentec is the ideal business platform for entering the promising South American food market,” said Denis Steker, vice-president of Koelnmesse - Alimentec’s organiser.
“Colombia is taking on the position of a hidden champion in this region. Koelnmesse and Corferias (the other organiser) are offering interested companies particularly attractive starting conditions at Alimentec – for example, favourably-priced stand packages with a basic modular stand or the opportunity of a company presentation in the scope of international pavilions.”
Colombia’s ‘dynamic growth’
A recent study by Business Monitor International said Columbia is expected to enjoy an 8.7% rise in food consumption up until 2019. This puts Alimentec in a prime position to attract businesses keen to capitalise on Columbia’s hungry and rising middle class.
“With its economy that is currently experiencing dynamic growth and its large domestic market, Colombia plays a key role in the economic development of Latin America,” said Christoph Bickel, senior export manager of Lorenz Snack-World – an exhibitor at Alimentec.
“We are not only expecting the trade fair to enable us to meet up with existing business partners in the region, but also hope it will give us the opportunity to enthuse potential partners for our premium products.”
The trade show is running the slogan ‘powered by Anuga’ to reflect its international pedigrees on the food trade show stage. Anuga is also a fair that GlobalMeatNews has attended, both in 2013 and during Anuga FoodTech in 2015.