This year's Fruit Attraction trade fair in Madrid, Spain attracted 561 exhibitors and 18,473 visitors, up 24 per cent and 47.3 per cent respectively from the 2010 edition, with a total of 26,492 fresh produce industry professionals taking part.
According to organisers Ifema, the third edition of the event, which was held from 24-26 October in the Spanish capital, featured exhibitors from 1,127 companies on single and shared stands, with 19 per cent of the firms drawn from outside Spain, particularly France, Portugal and Italy.
Some 3,371 visitors from 92 nations also came from outside Spain, an 81 per cent increase in international attendance, 25 per cent of which were invited to the event through Ifema's International Buyers' Programme.
In a statement, the organisation said the programme helped it achieve one of its main aims for the 2011 edition: to increase the presence of Latin American companies with the participation of businesses from Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, amongst other countries.
Exhibition floor space use also increased to 14,615m2 (up 26.8 per cent from 2010) in exhibition Halls 7 and 9 at the Feria de Madrid conference centre due to the greater number of participants.
In a statement, Ifema said that one of the main objectives for the 2012 edition, to be held on 24-26 October 2012, would be to boost the presence of Spanish producers from all areas of the country and further increase international participation, particularly from the Latin American market.
