Successful first edition in Toronto

Running from May 11th to 13th, SIAL Canada 2011, the 8th edition of the conference, closed on a record-breaking note after taking place, for the first time ever, in Toronto, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Last year, we accepted the challenge of successfully alternating between Canada’s two main cities, Montreal, in even years and Toronto, in odd years, and the success of this edition proves that that objective was met.
Even back in January, the show already boasted an impressive 35% growth rate, with 100% of the North Hall of the MTCC sold-out and a waiting list put in place. Without such space constraints, the show could have easily reached a growth rate of 40%.

For 3 days, Toronto became the capital of the food and restaurant industries: 697 exhibitors (a record for the show) from 37 countries met 12,415 visitors from 61 countries (including Canada).
This result is remarkable, not only because of the amount of visitors but also because of their varied origins:

• Pan-Canadian presence: every province was at the show, which made for a 79% increase over 2010.
• The United States and the rest of the world refused to be left out and posted respective increases of 47% and 70% over 2010.
• Quebec, the birthplace of the show, also came out in numbers and made up the second biggest visitor demographic by region (17%).
• Lastly, Ontario truly welcomed its first edition of SIAL Canada and SET Canada by accounting for 67% of visitors, making it the show’s best represented region.

According to the Director of the show, Mr. Xavier Poncin: “SIAL Canada coupled with SET Canada in Toronto was not just rendered a reality but now provides us with a solid foundation on which to build. Such positive results reassure us of our choice and confirm our place as Canada’s food industry’s only international and pan-Canadian show as well as being among the leaders for North America. This bodes well for our 2012 edition and our return to Montreal.”

The official opening was a festive event.
A number of dignitaries from many different domains were present, such as: Andrea Lyon, Associate Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Carol Mitchell, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Pierre Corbeil, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ambassador Umberto Vattani (president of ICE – the Italian Trade Commision), Philippe Rouault, French Interministerial Delegate for the Agro-food and Agroprocessing Industries, Marek Sawicki, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as Britta Döbert, Senior German Federal Adviser on Agriculture and Consumption.
The opening ceremony was also an occasion to showcase Italy, this year’s country of honour.
Mr. Umberto Vattani, ICE President, made the most of the tremendous launching platform that is SIAL Canada, by kicking off a huge Canada-wide promotional and communication campaign for Italian products.

Trends and Innovations
This year, the contest had a record 50 participants, all of which were part of a rigorous selection process headed up by an independent jury. It was by using this method that 10 leading products were chosen. The most innovative products were brought together at the Trends & Innovations stand. Canadian selections were shown as well as selected products from China and France. The big winner of the 2011 Trends and Innovations Grand Prize was Your Bar Factory’s Fruit & Fruit bar.
Read the release

The Olive d’Or Competition
First organized at SIAL Canada in 2005, the Olive d’Or competition had record participation for this, its 6th edition, including 124 products from 14 different countries. The winners in the light fruit flavour, medium fruit flavour and strong fruit flavour categories were revealed on May 11th. The Attendees’ Choice Award was given out on the last day of the show to Acropolis, a Cretan oil.
Read the release

SET Canada
SIAL Canada is never complete without SET Canada.
This “show within the show” provides a showcase for companies that deal in equipment and services for the food industry. This part of the show allows visitors to get a complete perspective, from the product to the shelf. Exhibitors and visitors alike really came out in numbers.

SIAL Canada 2011 was a tremendous success and we look forward to seeing you for the
2012 edition from May 9th to 11th at Montreal’s Palais des Congrès.