Peru is preparing to become the world capital of food on 27-29 August, when the Expoalimentaria trade fair opens its doors to 2,500 international buyers at the Jockey Club Convention Center is Lima.
Visitors will have the opportunity to do business with more than 650 exhibitors from Peru and other countries, who will present the best of their offerings at the event.
The event has been organised by ADEX with the support of Promperú, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RR.EE.), the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) and the Ministry of Production (Produce).
It is estimated that the fair will receive more than 35,000 visitors from 62 countries this year, with delegates also participating in specialised conventions, themed shows, technical lectures and other complementary events.
A diverse number of supermarket chains and distributors from different parts of the world have confirmed their presence at the show, including Loblaw Companies Limited (Canada), Isidro de La Cal (Spain), Yosa (Finland), Kibsons International (UAE), Choithrams (UAE), Coastal Sunbelt Produce (US), Fresh Pacific (US), Mercado Latino Inc. (US), Yayla (Turkey), Derstine’s (US), Grace (Jamaica), Spar (Spain) and übelhör (Germany), among others.
Pavilions, halls and activities
Companies that participate as exhibitors will be based in pavilions according to their category: food and drinks, marine and aquaculture products, packaging, or services and machinery. Additionally, the Markets and Trends Convention II will be held, along with the conferences “Packaging Trends for the food industry” and “Branding and Trade Marketing Strategies”.
The event will also include a Business Roundtable, the Innovation Contest V, the Pisco Hall, the Gastronomy Hall, the Hall of Peruvian Coffee and Cacao for the World, the Hall of Aquaculture and Marine Products, and the Tasting Room.
Also highlighted is ‘Perú Natura’, a pavilion where Peruvian companies – many from the country’s interior – will put Peruvian biodiversity on display, including aguaymanto (Cape gooseberries), quinoa, sacha inchi and more, while the Perú Regiones pavillion will allow visitors to appreciate the most representative products of the country. There will also be a programme of plant visits in the north for foreign companies to cover the Fishing Route and the Fruit & vegetable Route.
Fifth Innovation Contest
The objective is to reward entrepreneurial ingenuity in constantly improving the exportable offering from the region by making it more attractive in international markets. New this year will be the incorporation of a category for packaging within the competition, joined by eight already known parts of the food industry: Oils and sauces; Drinks; Sweets and Snacks; Canned Fruits and Vegetables; Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals; Pasta and flour; Fishing; and finally, Quinoa.
Some of the growers who have participated in previous contests are now already in international markets. The company Industrias Alimenticias Cusco S.A. (INCASUR) is currently exporting its Quinoa Flakes product, which was the winner of last year’s Quinoa innovation category.
Gastronomy Hall
As gastronomy is an area that helps position Peru’s food supply to the world, a Gastronomy Hall will be included in the event where the great quality and variety of ingredients used in Peruvian cuisine will be on display. Prestigious national and foreign chefs will be present, including Pedro Schiaffino (Malabar y ámáZ), Flavio Solórzano (El Señorío de Sulco) and Mitsuharu Tsumura (Maido), among others who will prepare exquisite dishes and desserts using new local products with added value.
Business Roundtable
On the other hand, international buyers will be able to participate in the event’s Business Roundtable, and through software specially developed for this event, will be able to access a detailed database of growers and schedule personalised meetings. The Roundtable is a fundamental tool with a differentiating value for the event because it allows business meetings to be arranged based on products of interest. Additionally, it will facilitate interpretation, bank consulting, logistics, tax and certification services within the same physical space.
Expoalimentaria 2014 will take place over a surface area of 23,400 square meters where regions represented will include the coastal areas of Piura, Ica and Arequipa; and Amazon regions such as San Martín and Ucayali, among many others.
Piura is known for its fishing and agriculture, while companies in Lambayeque and La Libertad will being fruits and vegetables as part of their offering, both fresh and processed. The regions of Arequipa and Tacna are also growers of onions, as well as oregano for the former and olives for the later.
There will also be country pavilions, including Ecuador with the most extensive, along with India, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Greece, Spain, the United States, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia.
