Seafood buyers and sellers from around the globe are about to descend upon Brussels, Belgium, for the 18th annual European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe.
Despite travel disruptions across northern Europe caused by the volcanic ash originating from Iceland, the three-day event is still scheduled to kick off on 27 April, according to show organizer Diversified Business Communications, which also publishes SeafoodSource. The event's Web site will be updated daily at 5 p.m. GMT with information on the show.
Brussels Airport reopened at 8 a.m. CEST on Tuesday, according to the airport's Web site.
This year's event commands more than 33,400 square meters of exhibit space in the Brussels Exhibition Grounds (Parc des Expositions de Bruxelles).
At the end of March, approximately 1,600 companies and organizations — 1,345 at the European Seafood Exposition and 210 at Seafood Processing Europe — were signed on to exhibit at this year's show, and more were being added daily in April. More than 350 new companies are exhibiting at the European Seafood Exposition and more than 50 at Seafood Processing Europe.
Exhibiting at this year's event are 75 countries; country and regional pavilions from Austria, Belarus, Mexico, Taiwan and Panama are new to this year's event.
"The 2010 European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe are truly reflecting the more positive outlook on the global economy since last year. The mood is much more upbeat and buyers and sellers are clearly planning ahead," said Mary Larkin, VP of seafood expositions for Diversified Business Communications of Portland, Maine.
Perhaps the occasion attendees look forward to the most is Seafood Prix d'Elite. The winners of the 10th annual new products competition will be selected among 43 finalists and announced during a reception and awards ceremony in Auditorium 2000 from 6:15 to 8 p.m. on 27 April. In addition to the two grand prizes for the best new retail product and bets new foodservice product, five special awards will be presented for seafood product line, convenience, packaging, originality, and health and nutrition.
Last year, Deutsche See GmbH's Seasonal Fresh Fish Convenience-Salmon in a Wooden Leaf took home the best new retail product award, while Alfocan S.A.'s Crayfish Skewers won the best new foodservice award.
The SeafoodSource editorial team will be reporting live from the European Seafood Exposition. To follow our coverage of the show, and to view previous articles and videos, click here.
April 19, 2010
