Around 900 companies from 47 countries will be showcasing their new meat products at IFFA, the international trade fair for the meat industry representing the entire production chain – from slaughtering and processing to packaging and sales.

Organised by Messe Frankfurt, Germany’s leading trade fair organiser, IFFA 2010 will run from May 8 to 13 in Frankfurt am Main over a floor area of more than 100,000 sq m.

Around 60,000 trade visitors from 125 different countries are expected, according to Messe Frankfurt.

The exhibits are divided into clearly defined areas: slaughtering and cutting/jointing, processing, ingredients, packaging, conveying and handling, cooling, storage, transport, food safety and quality management.

A further exhibition area presents the topic of "Sales – everything you need for the specialist wholesale and retail business".

Manufacturers create their new products to coincide with the dates of IFFA and hence show their market-ready innovations for the first time at IFFA.

Almost one in every two trade and professional visitors to IFFA and more than half of the exhibiting companies come from outside Germany, a statement said. The leading exhibitor nations, after Germany, are Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, France and the USA.

The leading visitor nations, after Germany, are The Russian Federation, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, and Poland.

Important topics for the coming event include, amongst others, efficiency, consumer protection, food safety, hygiene and the extension of automated processes. The increasing spread of convenience products is a continuing trend, and this will be reflected in the substantial section of the exhibition devoted to packaging.

IFFA will be accompanied by an extensive complementary programme and special exhibitions. At the Meat Vision Conference on May 11, top-flight speakers will provide insights into important current themes in the sector: these talks will be followed by an opportunity for discussion.

The complementary programme also includes the quality competitions, which traditionally enjoy enthusiastic participation both from within Germany and from outside. – TradeArabia News Service