Sial 2012

International food exhibition Sial returns to Paris on 21-25 October, this year with a special focus on innovation.

The event is expected to attract some 6,000 exhibitors, 80 per cent international, and 140,000 visitors from 200 countries.

According to Dorothée Gricourt, Sial’s promotion and communication director, three-quarters of visitors attend the exhibition in order to find out about the latest food innovations and trends.

Sial Innovation will highlight the year's top new products, with up to 15 products being selected for special attention by an expert jury.

This year also sees the launch of Sial TV – a television channel especially set up for the event – which will reportedly offer an insight into the main challenges influencing the sector, including increasing competitiveness, new retail formats and the issue of sustainable development.

'There are many reasons to visit Sial,' says Gricourt. 'Firstly, it is the largest food exhibition in 2012. We benefit from international expertise, thanks to our local teams that work in different countries around the world. We also have expertise in picking what are going to be tomorrow's main innovations and trends. In addition, the event is tailor-made for each sector in the food industry.'

Visitors to the fair will also benefit from special offers in Paris during the course of the event, including deals at certain food outlets and museums.

One growing area of the fair, according to Gricourt, is in fruit and vegetales, with Iran, the US, Spain and China all having a larger presence this year.