In the living room have been discovered stuffed olives fruit, exclusive tea for men or clams fisherman's style, among many other options

The last edition of the foodfair, held in Barcelona from 10 to 14 March, it closed its doors with the best figures in its history, both of square metres occupied (131.000), and visitors - a few 158.000 - and of participating companies (almost 5,000). Some data that put the Spanish event of reference for the agri-food sector in the second global position and serving of lever to continue to grow in the next call. The celebration of the Hall there in Barcelona and its surroundings economy induced of 168 million euros.

Especially significant is the presence of professionals from abroad, some 33,000 of 155 countries, 21 per cent of total visitors. This means that one of every five visitors has been of international origin. Josep Lluís Bonet, Chairman of food and Fira de Barcelona, points out that food 2008 has fulfilled their expectations "by far". "I am very pleased with how has passed the Hall" has been said and has thanked the "support" of the Royal House. The Princes of Asturias inaugurated on 10 March the Hall, which was also attended by the Minister of agriculture, fisheries and food, Elena Espinosa in; the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, José Montilla; and the Minister of agriculture, Alimentació i Acció Rural, Joaquim Llena, among other authorities. According to Bonet, food is one of the "large" rooms of Fira Barcelona, "which encourages us to continue to make progress", affirms.

For José Antonio Valls, Director of food and Director General Adjunto of Alimentaria Exhibitions, this fair "imposes new models of success that in view of its power to call and to the positive response from exhibitors, makes clear that buyers"", companies, operators of the sector and trade fair organizer move in the same direction". In his view, the impact of food has not only been quantitative, but also "extremely qualitative" and as an example highlights the great success of the new food Premium zone, of the International Forum of food with the presentation of the study of TNS 'Demands of the purchaser of the future'the future store of Innoval and the feed back received from companies participating in the living room.

General view of the Pavilion of the autonomies.

José Antonio Valls stressed that food 2008 has met the objectives that had provided concerning the internationality of the Hall and the sectoral rearrangement of the same. In this regard stresses the great growth of Restaurama which has doubled its surface to the 15,000 square meters and stands at the European event of reference for the hospitality and catering, as well as widespread in the living room Intercarn satisfactionthat this edition of food also changed location. Similarly, the Organization of the fair valued "very positively" achieved quality assessments and considerable improvements in mobility and interconnection between the two exhibition centres, thank you, in addition to the shuttle bus provided by the Organization, to the new station Fira-Europe of the railroads of the Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC)means of transport used by about 60,000 visitors, with a daily average of 12,000.

During the five days of the fair, a host of new features could discover in the corridors of the fair. In many cases, concentrated in the area of innovation, Innoval, and others in the different stands of the two venues. At Innoval, Connein company introduced the new pizza cone format. AVORO Foods, avocado extra virgin oil; Krups and Heineken, a shooter of beer for the home; Nesquik, a relaxing soluble cocoa for children; Casanovas showed salt liquid and gel; Arluy an energizing snack; H. Mallafré, the olive oil with passion fruit; Alinaco, the pizza tortilla chips-based; Inodducky-Mas Parés, the Mille-Feuille of confit and foie duck with caramelized Apple and PEAR; and Marquis of Vizhoja, envelopes pomace for coffee pods. In addition, at Alimentaria 2008 have been discovered stuffed olives fruit, exclusive tea for men, clams fisherman's style in a can, edible seaweed canned beer with tail, meat soy for vegetarians and the first salmon ham, the 'Jalmón'. Others of the new releases, is a liquid smoke which gives meat a real taste of odor of cooked barbecue outdoor; chewing gum that serves to accelerate and extend the tanning; a coffee with milk in tetrapack; eggs are already cooked and peeled; vodka in tube of toothpaste, and an anti-aging drink.

Visitors to the Salon Alimentaria 2008 Innoval.