News

Mexico, D.F., 27 March 2006. —Alimentaria Exhibitions S. A. and E. J. Krause de México announced the new features of the 2006 Alimentaria México, the largest international exhibition in Mexico, bringing together the widest range of food and beverage products, taking place from 6 to 8 June, at the Banamex Centre in Mexico City. Alimentaria México 2006 will be introducing major innovations for professionals in the food sector, not just from Mexico, but from many different countries.

With constant innovations, such as the Alimentaria Equipo Area, Alimentaria México 2006 is promoting small food producers, medium and large enterprises, with international and national companies, in an atmosphere ideal for business. Participating SMEs can benefit from this exhibition as the best platform for locating buyers and to distribute their products to new target markets.

In its effort to innovate and to continue to provide elements which add value to the exhibition, the Alimentaria Equipo Area meets the large demand on the part of our visitors for the display of equipment, accessories and services for food service and restaurant professionals; a unique range of products on the Mexican market to promote business between companies of all sizes in the sector.

“Year after year our main objective for Alimentaria México is to continue expanding the range of food and beverages available on the exhibition floor; this is what our professional visitors are really looking for and what we are striving to achieve”, commented Víctor Pascual, Director of Alimentaria México.

“At previous shows there has been a significant increase in professionals belonging to sectors such as the hotel and catering sectors. Other channels such as speciality shops, gourmet outlets, delicatessens, prepared-food outlets and food franchises represent new business opportunities for all visitors”, he added.

Specialists, opinion leaders, nutritionists, sommeliers, oenologists, journalists and decision makers will all be keeping their appointment with Alimentaria México. This popularity reaffirms the high level of professionalism and the value of the exhibition as a business forum for the industry’s international group of operators.

To date, the exhibition has 16 international pavilions representing Germany, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Korea, China, Spain, Holland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, United States and Vietnam; in addition to 7 national pavilions representing Chiapas, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Querétaro, Sonora and Tabasco.

The following are equally predominant features of Alimentaria México 2006:

TENDENCIAS Alimentaria, Mexican Congress of Gastronomy; With the country’s leading chefs and experts who are introducing change to the Mexican cuisine. There are tasting workshops, as well as talks, round tables and panels dealing with topics such as Cooking with insects and flowers, the revival of an ancient tradition, The Science of food and new gastronomic trends, Systems in support of effective management in the restaurant industry, The value and quality of Mexican organic products, Innovative marketing and promotional strategies for restaurants, etc.

The central theme of TENDENCIAS Alimentaria is Innovation in the gastronomy of Mexico and it is aimed at professionals in the Hotel and Restaurant Industries, Industrial Canteens, Hospitals, Universities, Food and Beverage Managers, Chefs, Researchers, Consulting, Banqueting, Oenologists, etc.

Tastings of Mexican Drinks; tastings of Tequila and Mezcal, as well as other Mexican drinks such as Sotol, Bacanora, Xtabentún, Rompope, Charanda and Mexican Cider.
Innoval Pavilion; the Innoval Pavilion lends a special flavour to the event and is the forum for innovations, with the most outstanding brands to have been launched on to the market over the last 12 months.

The food industry is the most innovative sector, thanks to the constant demand of consumers. The Innoval award recognises the efforts which Mexican and international businesses are investing in researching and creating new products and is endorsed by a first-class panel of judges.

Nutrition Seminars; The Centro de Orientación Alimentaria (Centre for Food Guidance) will be presenting a programme on nutrition aimed at professionals who are tasked with determining the nutritional content of food in their institutions.

Al-Invest Business Meetings; Eurocentro Bancomext is organising these meetings which will be attended by over 100 businesses from Germany, Spain, France, Holland, Italy, United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua

“Alimentaria México is the benchmark in the food and beverages industry. It has an important distinguishing feature in that with all the activities together, national and international Pavilions, 400 exhibitors with a range of products which always adds value for the visitors, Alimentaria México 2006 is establishing itself as the event par excellence for the food and beverages industry in Mexico. We are confident that the 2006 show will be a success and we wish all our visitors and exhibitors an experience full of excellent business opportunities, a strategic combination for this important market”, he concluded.

About Alimentaria Exhibitions, S.A.
This is the company created by Fira de Barcelona and Reed Exhibitions Iberia S.A., tasked with organising the Alimentaria exhibitions in Barcelona, Lisbon and Mexico, Barcelona Degusta and the BTA show. Fira de Barcelona draws on over a hundred years of experience in the design and staging of exhibitions and Reed Exhibition Companies is the world leader in the trade show market, with over 470 exhibitions taking place across the five continents. With Alimentaria Exhibitions, S.A. the application of the same quality and organisational criteria, among other things, is ensured for all its events. http://www.alimentaria.com/

About E.J. Krause de México
This company organises international business forums in Mexico, creating the major annual events in telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, the environment, energy, food and beverages and concrete construction. E.J. Krause de México is part of the world network of E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc., one of the largest privately held exhibition management companies in the United States, with a total of 11 offices.
http://www.ejkrause.com.mx/

Press contacts:
Mónica Avilés Unda, EJKrause de México
Tel. (55) 10871650 ext. 1114 and 1115
maviles@ejkrause.com
Javier González, Edelman México
Tel. (55) 5350 1513
javier.gonzalez@edelman.com