A worldwide clientele for producers worldwide
The number of visitors attending Vinexpo 2009 exceeded expectations: 46,621 professional visitors from the wine and spirits industry travelled from 135 different countries to be there this year. Despite a slight 7.56% decrease in attendance compared to 2007, what really stood out at Vinexpo 2009 was the high proportion of international visitors: 15,851 professionals or 34% of the overall total, a new record for the exhibition. The slight decrease in overall numbers was mainly due to there being fewer visitors from the hospitality sector and less retailers, principally French and from other countries particularly hit by the crisis.
The largest group of international visitors came from UK with 1,322 professionals, up 1.5% compared to 2007. A striking characteristic of Vinexpo 2009 was that the second largest market in terms of the number of visitors representing it was China and Hong Kong with 1,189 people, up 63.31% compared to 2007. This remarkable attendance was attributed to Vinexpo Asia-Pacific, which acts as a bridgehead for the Asian markets. Four countries sent significantly more visitors in 2009: Norway, up 24.32%, Brazil, up 37.25%, Thailand, up 92.86%, and more surprisingly Japan, up 3.2%.
Even North America sent similar numbers of visitors in 2009 (1,660) compared to 2007, and the proportion of Americans (2/3) and Canadians (1/3) also remained the same. Belgium, up 4.52%, the Netherlands, up 5.35%, Switzerland, up 5.8%, Sweden, up 3.97%, and even Norway, up 24.32%, were reassuring evidence of how sound European markets actually are. The business context provoked fears that visitor numbers would fall. In fact the decline was only limited and the professionalism of the visitors who did attend as well as the intensity of the business contacts made with exhibitors compensated for this. Outside France, the main countries to send less visitors were South Korea, down 51.5%, Taiwan, down 33.8% and Germany, down 7.5%. The major buyers, who were members of Club Vinexpo, went to the exhibition with the clear purpose of making their visit worthwhile by setting orders in motion again.
The survey conducted at the exhibition shows that 89% of the visitors interviewed said they were pleased with Vinexpo 2009.
They said :
M. Richard Genova, Senior Vice President of Sales Pasternak Wine Imports (Etats-Unis)
« Vinexpo is the single most important trade show that we go to. I have been at every Vinexpo since 1983 and it only gets bigger and better each time. I wouldn’t miss it. »
Ms. Sabrina Wang, GM de Top Cellar (Chine)
« Vinexpo is always the best exhibition to meet maximum producers from the majority of wine production countries. »
M. Nicolas Mahé de Berdouaré, Société Vinhuset NoFra AS (Norvège)
« Vinexpo is the leading trade exhibition. It’s excellent for promoting products and the whole world comes together at Vinexpo. »
Paul Chaconas, Purchasing Manager, Total Wine & More (Etats-Unis)
« Vinexpo is the most important event for our company, because it enables us to buy wines from all over the world at one stop and in one time. »
Frank Gronau, Trinkgut Deutsche Getränke Holding GmbH (Allemagne)
« This was my first time at Vinexpo and I really liked the pleasant, professional work atmosphere at the exhibition. This is due to inside conditions, the temperature, the room in the different halls and the siting of the stands as well as the exceptional setting outside. I already have Vinexpo 2011 down in my diary! »
