Fruit Logistica 2008 set a new attendance record, with more than 50,000 trade visitors from 125 countries going through its doors.
The 50,000 mark was hit for the first time in Berlin, on February 7-9, and represented a 16 per cent increase on 2007’s official figure of 43,000.
Dr Christian Göke, of organiser Messe Berlin, said: "Fruit Logistica 2008 exceeded our high expectations. In an area covering 81,000m² of exhibition space, 2,110 exhibitors from 68 countries presented the full spectrum of the logistics services required to ensure a year-round supply of top-quality fresh fruit and vegetables to consumers all over the world.”
Around 88 per cent of the exhibitors and 75 per cent of trade visitors at this year's event came from outside Germany.
Three-quarters of those present were managers of their own companies or directly responsible for procurement decisions.
Some 98 per cent of the trade visitors who filled in an assessment survey said their participation had a positive impact on their business.
This year’s official country partner was Morocco, and the country’s minister of agriculture Aziz Akhenouch was one of a host of politicians who toured the halls, along with 32 ambassadors. Chile’s agriculture minister, Marigen Hornkohl, was on hand with exporters’ association chairman Ronald Bown to announce Chile as the 2008 partner nation.
Messe Berlin estimates that visitors spent around £80 million in Berlin and its surrounding area.
Read freshinfo all week for the major stories that came out of the event.
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