FTPT 2016 CAB Report

11-13 Oct 2016 ASB Showgrounds, Auckland

Postshow Report

A record attendance just shy of 4000 (mainly) food manufacturers descended upon the bi-ennial Foodtech Packtech trade show last week in Auckland, with organisers claiming it a huge success. More than 240 exhibitors were on display across 4 halls of the ASB showgrounds in Auckland – the largest contingent of exhibitors in more than a decade, the show collocating with their recently acquired Materials Handling and Logistics Expo. With more than 80 of the 240 exhibitors were displaying materials handling related product; it really fulfilled the brief for trade attendees – helping complete the “Pasture (or seabed) to plate” story for Food Manufacturers visiting the show. “Exhibitors have been completing post show surveys telling us the quality of visitor was spot on” says Brent Spillane MD of the show. “We’ve had feedback that the sector was very buoyant with many visitors outlaying large capex to buy plant, packaging, machinery, equipment and technology for their factories” says Spillane. “The success of the event has been evidenced with very strong rebookings for exhibitor stands, and many companies upsizing their presence for the next show.” The event which was featured across the NZ Herald and all leading trade publications in the lead-up to the show attracted a strong contingent of international visitors too – with large groups of Chinese and Australian delegates. “We’re excited about the growing internationalisation of the event with ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders around creating an international food week and summit alongside the show in years to come. When you get this many sector professionals attending the show – there’s a natural progression to create ancillary conferences.” The event hosted three full days of seminars hosted by the NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and other industry bodies. We had a very high calibre of speakers covering issues ranging from Risk Management in Exports through to a new $15m MBIE funded Food Research fund – across the three days. Foodtech Packtech’s 2016 showclip has already been viewed more than 5000 times across our Facebook page and Youtube site – yet it’s only been up for a couple of weeks! We’d like to say a very big thank you to the hundreds of suppliers of food technology, processing, packaging, materials handling and logistics companies who invested in participating at the event. We’re always looking to improve on our show. We appreciate that you take time out to complete the exhibitor survey, and/or email us at info@xpo.co.nz Food Industry trade events form a major part of our annual marketing investment and FTPT 2016 is our key event for the exciting NZ & South Pacific markets. When it comes to high payoff activities, there is none better than demonstrating our solutions one-on-one at an event like this and we’ve recouped our investment in days not months. With over 750 visitors to our stand in three days and 97 qualified leads for measurement & inspection systems, we have plenty of opportunities to chase that will keep us busy until we welcome the next instalment in 2018. Julian Horsley A & D Weighing Click to view event video