Maria joined the industry when she took over the management of the agri-food fairs at IFEMA MADRID in 2021. She has been associated with the institution for over 30 years, overseeing numerous professional fairs and large-scale public events.
Maria’s role as the director of Fruit Attraction is to provide professionals in the industry with the best commercial tool, the premier international promotion platform for companies and the industry. With the support of an exceptional team, they do everything in their power to continue consolidating and positioning the fair with the sole objective of ensuring that companies achieve their business expectations.
Fruit Attraction is a very special year as the fair celebrates its 15th anniversary. Celebrating it in style with over 1,800 companies and 90,000 professionals from 135 countries, who will gather from October 3rd to 5th in Madrid.
Certainly, the results are fantastic. If we go back to 2009 when the first edition was held, we see that it covered an area of 7,400 square meters, and today it exceeds 60,000. Undoubtedly, the credit goes to the participating professionals. These numbers confirm the sector’s confidence in this top-notch commercial tool for businesses, which has achieved progressive positioning that allows it to offer participants a platform for international growth and expansion.
Fruit Attraction 2023 will occupy, for the first time, 9 pavilions at the IFEMA MADRID fairgrounds turning the city into the global epicenter of fresh product marketing.
With a total participation forecast of 1,800 companies, the Fresh Produce Area stands out, representing more than 69% of the fair and registering a 5.5% increase compared to the previous year, as well as the Auxiliary Industry Area, accounting for 25%, and showing growth in two of its sectors: Biotech Attraction, up 12.5%, and Smart Agro, up 10%. The Fresh Food Logistics Area also records an increase of over 23%, with the participation of 43 companies.
One of the key pillars of Fruit Attraction remains innovation. The fair showcases innovation as one of the cornerstones of a modern horticultural and fruit industry adapted to consumer profiles. In this regard, it will provide The Innovation Hub, which brings together all the innovations and the best products or services of participating exhibitors, as well as the Innovation Hub Awards, which will once again recognize the best products and services in each category.
As for the Featured Importing Countries at Fruit Attraction, this year Brazil, Canada, and the United States will take the spotlight. This action will promote commercial relationships between European Union countries and these non-EU markets, supported by a comprehensive program of roundtable discussions, guided tours of the fair, and B2B sessions.
In addition to this initiative, Fruit Attraction will once again make a significant investment in the International Guests Program, attracting 1,000 retail buyers, importers, and wholesalers from around the world to Madrid.