THE 18th annual European Seafood Exposition and 12th annual Seafood Processing Europe just came to an end following an exciting three days, 27 through 29 April, in Brussels, Belgium.

Together these events form the world's largest seafood exposition and this year's expo was buzzing with the sound of business. 

24,266 buyers and sellers from around the globe descended on Brussels for the annual event which drew visitors from more than 140 countries.

The 2010 event featured the stands of 1,635 exhibiting companies from 76 countries around the globe. Seventy countries were represented in national pavilions, including a first time national pavilion from Latvia. The exhibits covered 33,500 square meters of combined exhibit space.

The success of the 2010 exposition is a reminder of the importance of trade fairs for business, and particularly the importance of the European Seafood Exposition/Seafood Processing Europe – the world’s largest seafood trade event. This exposition brings buyers and sellers together face to face, and provides the opportunity to see, taste, and touch the products.

Trends seen at this year’s exposition were products with a focus on health and convenience, exemplified by the Seafood Prix d’Elite Grand Prize Award winners.

The winner for Best Foodservice Product, and Most Original product, was MacKnight’s Smoked Salmon Bacon from Grant’s Smokehouse. This product innovatively creates bacon from salmon and is a healthier alternative to more traditional bacon.

Prins & Dingemanse took the award for Best Retail Product with its Oyster Tasting Platter. This innovative product features Zeeland, flat and French oysters in a three compartment package.

2010 marked the 10th anniversary of the prestigious Seafood Prix d’Elite New Product Competition and had 43 finalist entries, with 7 total prizes.

Diversified Business Communications, the organising company of the exposition, is pleased with the results of another successful expo and look forwards to the 2011 event – scheduled for 3 through 5 May, 2011 at the Parc des Expositions in Brussels, Belgium.