Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global closed its 32nd edition with over 35,500 attendees, the highest in the event’s history.
The event covered over 52,980 net square meters of exhibit space containing 2,290 exhibiting companies from 85 countries from 21 to 23 April. Held at the Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, the event spanned halls 1 through 5, including the Galleria space between halls 4 and 5, and generated an estimated economic impact of more than EUR 161 million (USD 153 million) for the city of Barcelona, event organizer Diversified said. [Editor's note: Diversified also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
“The energy and high level of engagement across the exhibition floor at this year’s edition clearly highlighted the value of in-person connections for the industry as a whole,” Diversified Group Vice President of Seafood Wynter Courmont said in a release. “Participants from across the value chain took advantage of the event to reinforce existing relationships, explore new business opportunities and stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of the seafood industry.”
Diversified said there was a diverse representation of countries at the event, including including Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam and more. The event also had delegation visits from multiple regions including the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of Catalonia; the Ministry of Fisheries Canada; the Icelandic Ministry of Industry and Innovation; the Ministry of Fisheries of Ireland; the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Policy; the Consulate of South Korea in Las Palmas; the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the United Kingdom's Minister of Food Safety, and more.
The event’s Key Buyer program attracted high-value buyers of seafood from retail, foodservice, and distribution including representatives of Aeon Topvalu Co., Ltd. (Japan), Aldi (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain), Aramark & Avendra International (Spain), Bidfood (Czech Republic, Hong Kong SAR, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom), Carnival UK (United Kingdom), Carrefour (France, Spain, Turkey), Elior (France, Italy, United Kingdom), Gategroup (Luxembourg, Spain), HelloFresh (Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom), Kura Sushi (United States), Lidl (Finland, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Spain), Mercadona (Spain), Metro (France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey), Pomona PassionFroid (France), Sodexo (France, Italy, United Kingdom), Sysco (France, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom), Viking Cruises (Andorra, Germany, Switzerland), and Wonderfield Group (Spain, United Kingdom), Diversified said.
The event also featured a comprehensive conference program, featuring a keynote by economist and geopolitical strategist Nomi Prins: “High Stakes, Shifting Tides: The Global Outlook on Seafood, Trade, Economic Pressure Points and Opportunities.” Another major feature of the latest edition of the event was the Aquaculture Innovation Zone, which featured an Innovation Theater with featured product pitches, programming, and networking opportunities.
The theater also featured an oyster shucking competition, networking events like the “Connecting Women in Seafood” and “Aquaculture Meet-Up,” and live culinary demonstrations by Michelin-starred Barcelona chef Albert Raurich.
Diversified said the next Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place in Barcelona from 20-22 April 2027, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue.
