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16 FOOD FOCUS ShelfLife October 201
1
Strong focus on Asian markets at Alimentaria 2012
A representative from ShelfLife was Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, doubling the size of
among the 80 foreign journalists Food and the Environment and its space and the
representing major food and drinks Jesús Serafín, president of the Alimentaria website
industry publications, that took part Spanish Food and Drink Industry will now have a
in the international presentation of Federation (FIAB). version in Chinese
Alimentaria 2012 in Barcelona on 30 The event focused participants’ and Japanese.
September ahead of the main attention on internationalisation. Alimentaria 2012
event, which will be held at the Five success cases at Spanish will feature two new
Gran Vía exhibition site in companies were presented to exhibition halls with
Barcelona, 26–29 March 2012. demonstrate the special importance a total of almost
In addition to attending the of this concept for the food and 95,000 m2. This
press conference, the journalists drinks industry in Spain, as well as edition will include
enjoyed an intensive two-day for each one of the 14 shows that 12 sector-specific
programme of activities. Highlights make up Alimentaria. shows and three
A group of industry specifically for international Indigenous Spanish produce will be a strong
Alimentaria Exhibitions Antonio Valls
experts brought their delegations, autonomous focus at next year’s fair
opinions and business communities and organic food
highlighted the show’s strong focus on experience to the table, products. advertising investment in
Asian countries like Thailand, Japan, placing special emphasis Alimentaria has established international media outlets,
Vietnam, China, Indonesia and India on the importance of itself as the best tool for organising practical seminars on
international expansion companies seeking to promote international markets such as
for Spanish food and their products and demonstrate Russia and China, and
drinks companies in their quality and innovation. strengthening programmes such as
order to ride out the However the trade show also Hosted Buyers.
crisis. creates synergies between Alimentaria has institutional and
IESE professor companies and countries, with business relationships with more
Antonio Argandoña told increases of 91% (international) and than 150 countries, an example of
attendees that 6% (national) in the number of the trade fair’s international focus.
consumption in Spain is visitors since the year 2000. The number of international agents
expected to rise 0.3%, to “We have set ourselves the goal has risen from four (in 1998) to 27
included the leisure, cultural and which we can add the 14.7% rise in of 140,000 buyers,” said director of (in 2012).
culinary tour of the Torres winery. Spanish food and drink exports Alimentaria and deputy managing Alimentaria’s ongoing
Alimentaria 2012 is set to be the compared to the same period of director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, commitment to value propositions
trade fair’s most international the previous year, according to J. Antonio Valls, who highlighted which educate and inform
edition so far. The fair is expected ICEX data. the show’s strong focus on Asian specialists will not disappoint
to attract 4,000 exhibitor The trade fair will be redoubling countries like Thailand, Japan, specialised visitors this year. Almost
companies, a third of which will its efforts to adapt to the current Vietnam, China, Indonesia and India. 10,000 m2 will be devoted to this
come from abroad, and 150,000 economic situation, making it a Valls also explained that type of activity, with highlights
buyers. Alimentaria will bring venue where companies can gain Alimentaria would increase including BCNVanguardia, Taste &
together specialists from more than access to foreign markets, investment in international Flavours and a number of seminars
75 countries in Barcelona. especially Asia. Japan, Thailand promotion by 30%, renewing and conferences for each sector at
Food industry opinion leaders, and Vietnam will be sending internationalisation agreements the trade show.
officials, and national and institutional exhibitor groups to the with FIAB (Spanish Food and Drink For the second consecutive year,
international journalists took part in exhibition for the first time, China is Industry Federation), increasing Alimentaria will focus on the best
a day of talks analysing the of national and international cuisine,
economic situation in the food placing special emphasis on the
industry held at La Casa Llotja de quality and variety of cuisine from
Mar in Barcelona. There was also a other countries.
presentation of the main new The news announcement for the
features at the trade show. International Conference on the
Presiding over the international Mediterranean Diet added a healthy
presentation was Josep-Lluís Bonet, note to the event. The issue of
chairman of the Alimentaria obesity will be dealt with at the
Organising Committee. Also conference, with Dr. Ordovás
present were Josep Maria Pelegrí, presiding. The event will take place
secretary of the government of Journalists from around the globe travelled to Barcelona for the Alimentaria 2012 presentation. in the exhibition site’s auditorium
Catalonia’s Department of They visited the Torres Winery as part of their trip on 27 and 28 March.
Sushi King takes Gold at 2011 Donnelly Fresh Foods
launches ‘in-season’ range
National Irish Food Awards DONNELLY FRESH FOODS has launched a new
Sushi King, Ireland’s leading artisan producer King won the coveted Bridgestone award for range focused on providing consumers with
of quality sushi, is celebrating after winning a quality in food and in 2011 won a Great Taste the best tasting ‘in-season’ fresh fruit and
gold and silver medal in the 2011 Blas na gold award for its Fish Fetish selection. The vegetables from Ireland and around the world.
hÉireann National Irish Food Awards. Sushi company now supplies a number of retailers in Fruit and vegetables are at their best
King has been presented with the coveted the greater Dublin area with its products as a tasting and most nutritious when they are ‘in-
gold medal for its Neptune selection box and response to consumer, demand for healthy season’.
silver for its Atlantis selection. food and a greater choice in the food to go And while the new collection will be of
Sushi King is a 100% Irish-owned and run sector. premium quality, it will not be premium price. In
family business founded in 2006 by Audrey Sushi King has three outlets; a restaurant on fact, some of the tastiest ‘in-season’ fruit and
Gargan to offer high quality sushi, Japanese Dawson St and takeout stores at Baggot St vegetables available are very reasonably
and Asian food. Shortly after opening, Sushi and Camden St. priced – the trick is to get the timing right.

2. 16.17 Food focus Oct11.qxd 13/10/2011 16:40 Page 3
ShelfLife October 201
1 FOOD FOCUS 17
Irish restaurants face €125 million UPC serves up the Food Network
food waste bill to Ireland
Irish restaurants lose €125 Food Network, one of the most
million a year by throwing popular lifestyle channels on US
away 63,670 tonnes of food; television, was launched in
enough food waste to cover Ireland last month by celebrity
Croke Park’s pitch eight times chef Gino D’Acampo. The
over.
channel is available to all of
New research from Unilever
UPC’s digital cable subscribers
Food Solutions Ireland shows
on programme number 508.
over half (53%) of food wasted
With originally commissioned Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo launched the popular
in restaurants is generated
programming coupled with lifestyle channel Food Network in Ireland
during preparation. However
popular series from around the
Irish diners are responsible for Chef Dylan McGrath helped bring Unilever Food Solutions
most of the food wasted out- world, including Iron Chef America, Ace of Cakes and 30 Minute Meals
Ireland’s food waste research to life last month by starring celebrity chef Rachael Ray, Food Network delivers
of-home (65%) with one in two creating a ‘Great Irish Waste’ menu. This took food
people (48%) admitting to programming to satisfy all food connoisseurs and appetites.
ingredients that had been thrown out, rejected or The news was announced by Nick Thorogood, managing director of
regularly over-ordering and deemed inedible and turned them into delicious
leaving food behind. Food Network EMEA and Simon Kelehan, head of TV at UPC Ireland.
restaurant-standard fare Food Network hosted a launch event with celebrity chef Gino
This staggering finding was
revealed at an industry event where, for the first time, Unilever Food D’Acampo in The Morgan Hotel, Dublin to formally introduce the channel
Solutions invited the biggest players in Ireland’s foodservice industry and preview upcoming programming including the Italian chef’s new
along with sustainability experts to take part in United Against Waste, a show Gino vs. Britain.
campaign calling for the foodservice industry to join forces and work As a chef who prides himself on his use of fresh ingredients, ShelfLife
with chefs, restaurants and consumers to take action and address the was keen to discover Gino D’Acampo’s favourite food store. He replied
issue of reducing avoidable food waste with a single voice. that he doesn’t have one, as he prefers independent shops.
Unilever Food Solutions Ireland commissioned research among 100 “I’m a very chatty guy so when I go to the shop I like to chat. I’m more
Irish chefs and operators via the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI). confident with independent shops. I know that I’m going to get the
This found the majority (85%) of Irish chefs and operators are concerned things that I want. They will advise me, they will source better, and I feel
about the amount of food wasted by their business. confident that I’m getting looked after.”
To download the Unilever’s full World Menu Report, visit For more information on Food Network, visit
www.unileverfoodsolutions.ie www.foodnetworktv.com.