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For four days this March, Barcelona became the focus of attention for the global food and drink industry as the city’s Fira Barcelona played host to the latest edition of Alimentaria and its co-located show Hostelco.
Gama with Rafael Juan, CEO, and Alberto García, Head of Communications, Vicky Foods
Proclaimed the most global edition to date, with 900 of the 3,200 exhibitors hailing from outside Spain, Alimentaria&Hostelco 2024 saw particularly strong representation from the meat, foodservice and hospitality sectors. Altogether, more than 107,000 industry professionals passed through the venue’s doors to explore the latest innovations and trends among the show’s 13 different category-oriented zones, spread across nearly 100,000 sq m of net exhibition space.
Ahead of the show, Alimentaria had trailed functional foods, sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI) as key themes, subsequently noting the importance of health and environmental benefits and protein-enhancement among the product launches on show, as well as increased focus on robotics in the foodservice sector.
HM King Felipe VI of Spain at Alimentaria 2024
Organisers particularly noted the “return” of Asian companies among its exhibitors, led by China and Hong Kong, as well as a “large representation” from Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. Meanwhile the buyer invitation programme brought together more than 2,200 importers, distributors, directors and high-level purchasing managers from 98 countries, with the US, Mexico, China, Portugal and the UK leading the way.
Gama with Anna Bosch Güel, CEO, NOEL Alimentaria
Out on the show floor, ‘plant power’ was particularly conspicuous as an innovation theme, exemplified by breakthroughs such as an olive-based gin. In the high-protein arena, eggs were also being used in increasingly creative ways, as demonstrated by launches such as “omelette chips” and yoghurt made from egg whites. Concentrated mixes for kombucha and sangria meanwhile highlighted interest in ‘make-at-home’ beverages.
Speaking to Gama at the show, Alimentaria director general Josep Antoni Valls identified continuing the “spirit of innovation”, enhancing the international nature of the show, retaining a layout based on differentiated industry verticals, and increasing the emphasis on hospitality as key strategic directions for the event over the next ten years. “That means reshaping every edition to really capture the trends in the food industry, the value chain and the consumer, who is king”, he said.
Alimentaria returns for its next outing in March 2026.
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