Seafood Expo Global hits largest-ever numbers for planned 2022 edition in Barcelona

The 2022 edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will be the largest version of the event in its history, Portland, Maine, U.S.A-based organizer Diversified Communications said on Wednesday, 23 November.  [Editor's note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource].

For the event’s first edition at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain, taking place 26 to 28 April, 2022, Diversified has already sold 41,985 square meters of exhibit space, 3.3 percent more than the 2019 edition in Brussels, Belgium.

Diversified Event Director Wynter Courmont said her company was celebrating the result, after nearly two years without in-person events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re excited to see that our first global event in Barcelona is generating strong interest within the industry. As of today, we have already received contracts for the 2022 edition representing a larger exhibit space than any editions of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, and it’s growing larger every day,” Courmont said. “With five months left in the sales cycle, we look forward to having a successful first edition in the beautiful city of Barcelona and bringing our global audiences to the Fira de Barcelona venue, as well as developing special events to provide an enhanced onsite experience with a comprehensive conference program and the Seafood Excellence Global Awards.”

Previous editions of Seafood Expo Global have featured more than 2,000 exhibiting companies from 89 countries, and have had attendance surpassing 29,000 visitors.

“Going into 2022, we understand the situation with COVID-19 can be volatile and that companies, depending on their locations, might be faced with travel restrictions. We are working closely with Fira de Barcelona and the city to ensure we can host a valuable in-person event that will bring back the representation that makes Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global the most-comprehensive global seafood marketplace and trade event in the world,” Diversified Group Vice President Liz Plizga said.

According to Diversified, country and regional pavilions from Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, the United States of America, Vietnam, and Wales, have confirmed their participation in Barcelona’s edition.

Companies that will attend the 2022 Seafood Expo Global, the 28^th edition of the event, include AquaChile, Balfego & Balfego, Cermaq Norway AS, Confremar-Congelados y Frescos del Mar, Cornelis Vrolijk , Crusta C, Denholm Seafoods, Direct Ocean, Fiorital, Fisherman’s Choice, Frime, Grupo Iberica de Congelados, Grupo Profand, Hofseth International, Iceland Seafood International, Irvin & Johnson, J Marr Seafoods, Krustagroup, Leroy Seafood, Macduff Shellfish, Mascato, Mercamadrid, Morubel, Mowi, Nordic Seafood, Parlevliet & Van der Plas, Pelagia, Pescanova España, Royal Greenland, Seafood Connection, Samherji, Sea Harvest Corporation, Sjor, True North Seafood Inc, Ulysse, Vichiunai Europe,  and Zalmhuys Group.

Processing machinery and equipment firms planning to attend the event include Adriatic Sea International, Baader, Cocci Luciano, FoodTech Belgium, Marel, Multivac, Palinox, and Saeplast.

A full list of companies planning to attend the event has been posted to the 2021 Seafood Expo Global website. Diversified said it hopes to “rekindle the industry’s global face-to-face events” with the expo, which will take place in the Fira de Barcelona’s halls 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Galleria between halls 4 and 5.