Attendance Up 5% at SIAL 2008

PARIS — International trade show SIAL said it had a record turnout of both attendees and exhibitors here last month.

The 2008 version of the show, which is staged every two years in Paris, tallied 147,860 visitors, up 5% over the 2006 show.

“SIAL 2008 fully achieved its goals, despite the depressing global economic climate,” the organization said in a prepared release.

More than half — 55% — of all visitors came from outside of France. Among the countries that sent larger delegations to the show this year were the United States, up 25%; Canada, up 45%; Brazil, up 60%; and Russia, up 25%.

The show included 5,500 exhibitors, 4% more than the 2006 total. The exhibitors hailed from 104 different countries, compared with 99 different countries in 2006, and 78% of the total were from outside of France.

In the SIAL d'Or awards recognizing innovative new products, Cully & Sully Soup, a product of Ireland, won the Global SIAL d'Or grand prize. The premium fresh soup line, crafted to have a homemade flavor, comes packaged in 400-gram and 600-gram tubs. SN was a judge in the competition.

The U.S. had one finalist in the competition: Budweiser's Budweiser & Clamato Chelada, a savory beer that won a SIAL d'Or in the alcoholic beverage category.

In addition, Kraft's Oscar Mayer Deli Creation Sandwich Melts were named the winner of the U.S. SIAL d'Or, having received the most votes of any of the U.S. products that were nominated. The Sandwich Melts did not compete for the Global SIAL d'Or.

The products were selected by a jury of trade magazine editors from 29 different countries earlier this year at SIAL China in Shanghai.