The agreement has been reached as both organisations want to cooperate more closely in the future, in an effort to lever the potential of the expanding international market of the food industry and to generate synergy.
Run by the FPSA, Process Expo is held in Chicago every two years. In the 2015 show, 914 exhibitors presented their innovations to an audience of around 20,000 trade visitors. The event features products including technical solutions for processing and packaging meat and fish, bakery products, beverages, milk products, and fruit and vegetables. The next Process Expo will be held from 19 to 22 September 2017.
IFFA is held in Frankfurt every three years for the past 45 years. Recognised as the leading international trade fair, it focuses on innovations and trends for the entire meat processing chain. Over 1,000 exhibitors from around 50 countries will be present at IFFA 2016 and Messe Frankfurt expects an international audience of about 60,000 trade visitors.
Promote 'dynamic development'
Wolfgang Marzin, president and chief executive officer of Messe Frankfurt, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to reach a cooperation agreement with FPSA. Our strategic marketing alliance will benefit the entire sector. Our aim is to further develop our well-established trade fairs in both qualitative and quantitative terms. In addition to a number of coordinated marketing measures, joint activities in other countries are planned to promote the dynamic development of food technology worldwide with strong events. For us, the leading trade fair for the US sector, Process Expo, is the perfect platform from which to intensify the exchange of information and ideas with important American markets and customers.”
Tom Kittle, chairman of FPSA and president of Handtmann Inc and Handtmann Canada, added: “As the organisers of Process Expo, we are excited about our joint strategic alliance with Messe Frankfurt/IFFA the pre-eminent trade fair worldwide for meat processing. The endorsement and promotion of each other’s shows will increase the international reach, as well as the brand awareness, of both events and will greatly benefit both attendees and exhibitors.”
US 'extremely interesting'
The agreement between the two organisations has been welcomed by the industry. Gil Williams, president of Poly-clip System, said: “This new strategic partnership between Messe Frankfurt and FPSA produces tremendous value to all exhibitors. The combined resources that the organisers of IFFA/Process Expo will bring in promoting and supporting each other’s trade fairs, via their marketing, advertising, public relations, development of educational sessions, and holding of special events/receptions, will result in not only additional show attendees but also more satisfied show attendees. Furthermore, the alliance of these two significant major shows being located in Europe and North America, will help us reach out to and better serve our present and future customers.”
Karl Keller, CEO of Maschinenfabrik Albert Handtmann, added: “The innovativeness and sheer scale of the North American market make it extremely interesting for us as manufacturers of meat processing machines. An alliance between IFFA and Process Expo will benefit our customers and help machine manufacturers in both North America and here in Europe to develop new foodstuffs and optimise their production. We warmly welcome this initiative of Messe Frankfurt and FPSA.”