Sial global food processing fair rescheduled over coronavirus
The organisers of the key international Sial food processing trade fair due to be staged in Paris this October have confirmed the event is to be rescheduled until 2022 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Traditionally held every two years, the event, which started in 1964, features a host of major themes including ingredients and solutions for confectionery and bakery sectors among its many core areas of focus.
However, the Comexposium Group which is behind the trade fair said there had been a “significant shift” in opinion among its audience who had favoured putting the event back – with no revised date for 2021, meaning it will revert to its next anticipated date of 15-19 October 2022.
In a statement on its decision, organisers said that every effort had been made in an attempt to stage it this year, including deploying a stringent public health charter, support for public transport services, as well as examining creating a hybrid event with a digital element for those who could not attend in person.
“Everyone in the SIAL Paris team has remained fully mobilised to support businesses and provide them with this export springboard which is so keenly awaited to get the economy back on track. To enable such an international event to take place during this pandemic-hit period, we put together a multitude of initiatives to safeguard individual and collective safety and maintain the quality of business exchanges and inspiration. In keeping with our mission, it remains our firm intention to keep in touch with our market and accompany the recovery and the transformation of food industry market players.”
The organisers added that they had worked considerably towards improving each fair over the past 50 years, and will be offering a series of new events from October 2020 onwards dealing with major global issues, trends and innovation that are set to shape the food industry of the future.
Among the highlights of these showcases, will include studies from its expert partners including from Kantar, ProtéinesXTC and Gira. In addition, the group confirmed that it will expand its global network to offer regional growth platforms with major annual gatherings in China, Canada, Indonesia, India and the United Arab Emirates.
