48 Buyers from 20+ Countries Discover Spanish Gastronomy in the Framework of the Alimentaria Food Fair

The Alimentaria food fair kicked off in Barcelona on March 18 and ran until the 21st, welcoming buyers from all five continents, that participated in the food fair’s special Hosted Buyer’s program. That included personalized meetings depending on each person’s specific interests, along with a visit to the fair.

The Alimentaria food fair continues to break records with its international reach. Held every two years, it regularly offers internationalization opportunities to Spanish agri-food companies.

At this edition, buyers came from Denmark, the UK, Hong Kong, Thailand, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Japan, Vietnam, and beyond.

Starting on March 20th, a total of 48 buyers set off on several different discovery trips throughout Spain, giving them the opportunity to meet and talk with producers and get a first-hand look at their products. Ultimately, they learned about Spain’s wealth of foods and wines, their immense diversity, and how they vary from region to region. In total, 16 buyers traveled to Andalusia, 6 to Castile-León, and 10 to Aragón. Another group, with 4 buyers, traveled with Provacuno, while another group, with 12 buyers, set off on two separate trips, both with Interporc. The first group of 6 traveled around Catalonia and the other group of 6 around central Spain and Zaragoza. These groups visited meat plants to get a better understanding of this industry in Spain.

Discovery Trip to Aragón

The buyers on this trip had dinner at Casa Pardina in Alquézar, where they were able to try Somontano PDO wines, visited the ancient olive groves near Buera and learned about Aceites ALIA’s olive oils, tasted Radiquero cheese, and visited Bodega SOMMOS. They also went on a truffle hunt with the President of the Truffle Producers Association of Aragón and visited FRIBIN, a leading producer of top-quality meats.

Discovery Trip to Castile-León

This group of buyers visited Grupo Matarromera’s Almazara Oliduero to sample its extra virgin olive oil, visited Pago de Valdecuevas to learn more about its oils, and toured Quesería Chillón Plaza cheese factory to sample its cheese.

They also visited the Quesería La Antigua de Fuentesaúco and César Nieto Group, the latter a cured product factory where they saw how Ibérico pigs are bred. They also toured the Cárnicas Tabladillo meat factory.

Andalusia Discovery Tour

These buyers visited Omed Olive Oil and then Centro Sur Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza, which produces and exports green asparagus. The remaining stops were Aceitunas Torrent to try their table olives and Covap to learn more about Ibérico pigs. 

Catalonia Discovery Tour

These buyers, which traveled with Interporc, visited several meat factories, among them Friselva, Cárnica Batallé, Costa Brava Foods, Cárniques Celrá, the FRIBIN slaughterhouse and cutting plant, and Corporación Alimentaria Guissona.

Zaragoza and Central Spain Discovery Tour

This group also traveled with Interporc to tour meat factories and producers, among them Ores-Vall Companys, ICP (International Casing Products), Jorge Group, Jamones Segovia, and Incarlopsa.

Discovery Trip for Importers and Buyers

This group traveled with Provacuno and visited Montgai farm, FRIBIN, Grup Viñas, EC Medina, and Mercamadrid.