| A BUSINESS BUZZ AT SIAL, DEFYING THE CREDIT CRUNCH |
| Eurocarni - 1 2008 |
 SIAL 2008 fully achieved its goals, despite the depressing global economic climate. This boom can be explained quite simply by the fact that there is no other event where the international food offer is better presented in its entirety. SIAL is, above all, the best reflection of the diversity of the global food industry. Companies, products, trends, innovations, topical issues... Food industry professionals have 5 intensive days to find out about the global offer and demand and decipher emerging trends. SIAL 2008, resolutely international with more exhibitors than ever: 215,000 m2 gross exhibition space with 19 sectors filling 8 halls; 5,500 exhibitors (+4% compared with 2006), 78% of them international from 104 countries (99 in 2006). There was a noticeable rise in the number of visitors from far afield, in particular: USA +25%, Canada +45%, Brazil +60%, Russia +25%. In all the 8 halls of the exhibition centre and particularly in the Nutrition Agora, there was a packed programme of talks offering all visitors answers to their questions. The most popular talks on nutrition were: the impact of changing lifestyles on our diet; the superfruits, superfoods and superingredients of the future; the new criteria governing consumer choice; Food & Beauty, get inspired. Innovation continues to be the main draw with: the Trends & Innovations Observatory, which has never welcomed so many visitors, large-scale manufacturers as well as retailers, including Scamark Leclerc, ITM, Monoprix, Carrefour, Casino, Picard, Système U, Metro (D), Coop (CH), Tesco (UK); the SIAL d'Or awards; the Trends & Innovations Grands Prix. With access to the exhibition facilitated by a range of dedicated services - free shuttles, conciergerie, bellboys - SIAL was once again the meeting place for the entire international food industry. And fulfilling SIAL's commitment to its social responsibility programme launched several years ago, nearly 50 tonnes of products were collected by 300 food bank volunteers for distribution to charity organisations. The SIAL Group means: 9.300 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, 370,000 m2 of exhibition space, 216,000 visitors from 200 countries, in Asia, North America and Latin America and Europe. See the dates of the SIAL 2009-2010 exhibitions at www.sial.fr
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