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October 2008 VISITOR INCREASE AT HOGATEC, INTERMOPRO, INTERCOOL, INTERMEAT 2008The recent concurrent staging of hogatec 2008 (International Trade Fair Hotels, Gastronomy and Catering), InterMopro 2008 (International Trade Fair Dairy Products) InterCool 2008 (International Trade Fair Frozen Food, Ice Cream, Technology) and InterMeat 2008 ( International Trade Fair Meat and Sausage), attracted over 70,000 visitors from 65 countries. A total of 500 exhibitors at hogatec and 970 exhibitors at the food trade fair trio presented innovative products, concepts and services at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. The exhibiting companies represented 30 countries. Wilhelm Niedergoeker, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf, commented: “Compared to 2006 we had more visitors despite the uncertainties in the economic environment facing both the food trade and the gastronomy business. Exhibitors from all four trade fairs reported excellent results. By staging InterMopro, InterCool, InterMeat and hogatec concurrently, we again offered our visitors a “first class menu”. This is because many visitors from the food trade, cafeteria service, catering, gastronomy and hotel sector took advantage of the synergies and visited the food trade fairs as well as hogatec”. A total of 41,000 visitors (compared to 35,152 visitors in 2006) took part in hogatec 2008. The trade fair benefited greatly from the participation of Metro Cash & Carry Deutschland, who invited customers from its 60 supermarkets in Germany to come to hogatec. Occupying an entire exhibition hall, Metro Cash & Carry Deutschland had its largest trade fair representation to date at hogatec 2008. InterMopro, InterCool and InterMeat 2008 were attended by 37,000 visitors (compared to 36,351 visitors in 2006). An increase in visitors from top-management levels was recorded. The German and Benelux food retail trade was almost completely represented. The largest number of non-German visitors at all four trade fairs came from the Netherlands and Belgium as well as from Austria, Switzerland and Italy. There was also in increase of visitors from Eastern Europe, particularly from Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria and Russia. hogatec clearly showed that investments are again being made in the gastronomy and hotel industry: 64% of the visitors intend to invest in kitchens and guest rooms within the next two years. Hotel rooms on display at hogatec 2008 demonstrated that design elements are as much in demand as extravagant wellness oases. At InterMopro, InterCool and InterMeat 2008, the latest trends were presented: from convenience, bio and wellness products to functional food, special products for senior citizens and international specialities offered as finger foods. The ancillary program at all four trade fairs was well received and included the special display “Bio – naturally fresh!“, the “European Food Talk“, the first “German Care Congress” (addressing decision makers from hospitals, clinics and senior citizen facilities) and the presentation of the “National Trainee Award” by the German Association for Hotels and Gastronomy (DEHOGA). The next concurrent staging of hogatec, InterMopro, InterCool and InterMeat will be held from September 12 – 15, 2010 in Düsseldorf. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at the shows, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com. Or visit the web site http://www.mdna.com. # # # |