SIAL 2014: an exceptional year!

The next SIAL edition, which will take place in Paris from 19 to 23 October, is sure to be an exceptional year. 

Exceptional because the fair will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In 1964, the first SIAL event was launched, within the CNIT at Paris La Défense. At that time SIAL had already decided to position itself as the food crossroads of the world, with a special focus on innovation. 26 countries were represented in this first edition. 

From the moment SIAL established its primary position in the rankings, the amount of international exhibitors and visitors has not stopped increasing edition after edition. The importance of innovation has also grown in importance, turning the SIAL into a privileged observatory of new food products. 

Not only that. Nine months before opening its doors, 90% of the exhibition surface has already been booked! « This clearly shows that a professional fair for professional people, conceived for business and aimed at business, has firmly established itself, even when the economy is less favourable than previous years  », said Nicolas Trentesaux, SIAL Group Director. 

In addition, SIAL 2014 will offer something new as it expands to embrace new horizons. The integration of Equipment, Technology and Services sectors will further consolidate SIAL in the food sector: from the factory to marketing of the product. 

The 2014 edition of SIAL is expecting 150,000 visitors. Nearly 2 out of 3 visitors will come from abroad. And 200 countries will be represented in total. More than the half of its visitors will come from trade and distribution, a quarter from the agribusiness industry, 18% from catering facilities and 4% from services.

 

More than 90% of the surface is already booked! 

To help visitors plan their time and to optimise professional networking, SIAL 2014 will once again be organised in 20 sectors, with a new sector: Equipment & Technology. 

 

Focus on Chinese participation at SIAL Paris in 2012 : 

Over the years, SIAL has become a brand: a unique relational experience in the agribusiness world. 

Thanks to its universality, the concept has been exported to different regions of the world: North America, Latin America, the Middle East, China and South East Asia. 

For agribusiness industry stakeholders, the SIAL network is a great opportunity to network, and is a platform for innovation, whatever their size and whatever their ambition.

In 2014, SIAL will celebrate its 50th anniversary. A unique anniversary that will be properly celebrated, with entertainment in the halls, the presence of 50 top international chefs doing their shopping at SIAL, and a Light & Sound Show on the SIAL esplanade on Monday 20 October, from 5PM to 8:30PM. The perfect moment to meet the SIAL community! 

SIAL confirms its trend watching role and its vocation for revealing innovations at SIAL Innovation. A vocation that is reinforced in 2014.

On the one hand, in conjunction with TNS Sofres, SIAL unveils a large worldwide study to identify emerging trends in terms of food behaviour. On the other hand, the world’s best innovations will be displayed at the fair. This will be the best occasion to bring visitors a unique outlook on innovation. 

In 2014, catering will once again have its place at SIAL. La Cuisine by SIAL will be an authentic crossroads for catering professionals, with entertainment, show cooking, photo exhibitions, etc. all sponsored by 3 star chef Christian Le Squer. On 20 October, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, SIAL will welcome 50 chefs from around the world. They will visit the fair (looking for new providers!) and will take part in show cooking events. 

World Tour by SIAL is a window to the world of consumption. The aim of this space is to decode conso-retail trends in the varied and sizeable food markets on the planet: new distribution concepts, market evolution, etc. In short, the maximum amount of added value essential to conquer new markets. 

SIAL TV demonstrates our desire to convert the fair into a meeting place for knowledge, experience, food news, debates, etc. SIAL TV Studio, with its live broadcasts, will be an undoubted hot spot for the 2014 edition. Don´t miss it! 

In this context, and in collaboration with Sopexa, let´s meet on 20 October from 10AM to 12:30PM on the SIAL TV Studio for « Foodies 2.0 ». The occasion to decode the social-web trends with the key actors and to guide companies in their 2.0 communication. 

In 2014, SIAL puts special focus on the fruit & vegetables trade with Le Marché by SIAL. Two reasons to explain this special honour. Firstly, the sector has made a huge effort to adapt its products to consumer expectations. Secondly, SIAL benefits from the savoir-faire! Fruit & vegetables are a product area where retailers are making considerable efforts to offer a unique service. And this trend can only increase in the coming years. 

SIAL is not only a worldwide meeting place for the food sector. It is also a great shop window for French agribusiness. This year France will again be the largest exhibitor country, with more than 1,000 companies and 19% of the exhibition surface. So SIAL turns into the biggest French marketplace! On this occasion, SIAL has signed a privileged partnership with French retailers, whose buyers will be present at the fair. 

First lesson: global innovation does not exist! It is, in fact, one of the specificities of the agribusiness industry: to adapt to continental, national and even occasionally regional expectations, as specified as they are. 

Nevertheless, within this framework, some key trends are detectable, as they imply the presence of innovation in every continent. The biggest trend? Time and time again « pleasure ». In 2013, according to the XTC consulting firm (SIAL partner), 55% of companies innovate on the food « pleasure » axis. In 2011, before the SIAL fair, they represented 52.5 %. 

The observatory for innovation that will be presented in this context during the next SIAL in Paris, will even allow for the regionalisation of trends structuring innovation. 

SIAL networks encompass the whole sector!

From the factory to consumption, all professions are represented: equipment, gross production, transformation, preparation, market launch (retail, catering, communities, etc.)

The SIAL Group network brings 360 º vision to the food industry and represents a real springboard for exports. 

SIAL is of huge global importance, and through the work of the SIAL Group network, provides a reliable and accurate picture of emerging trends in the world’s principal markets! 

SIAL network fairs are more than just exhibition square meters. The SIAL network is also the biggest food community in the world. It offers the definitive networking platform for the sector, and all the fun of the fair! During SIAL Paris, you can discover many original and innovative places in this food-loving capital with the help of the SIAL OFF programme!