BEIJING -- Both exhibitor and attendee figures for the first SIAL China trade show, held here in April, exceeded organizers' expectations. More than 320 exhibitors from 29 countries participated, displaying a wide range of food and beverage products in 108,000 square feet of exhibit space; attendance totaled 13,420.
00 key food buying decision-makers from 30 delegations, representing all of China's provinces and cities. Distributors, wholesalers and agents represented the largest group of visitors, approximately 55%.
In addition, French retailer Carrefour invited a 140-person group, mostly managers of agricultural and food companies, to the convention.
Paris-based Exposium, SIAL's parent company, partnered with COFCO, a Chinese state enterprise responsible for developing international trade and cooperation, to present SIAL China.
Exposium operates several food and beverage exhibitions around the world. Its best-known show is the Paris SIAL (Salon International de L'Alimentation), held every two years; SIAL 2000 will be held Oct. 22 to 26.
The organizers plan to hold a SIAL China show every two years, although they are currently considering whether to make it an annual event, alternating the location between Beijing and Shanghai.
