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ProWein 2015: Record breaking 52,000 visitors attended this week's show

Published:  18 March, 2015

More than 52,000 visitors attended ProWein 2015 this year, an increase of 7% over last year,  further solidifying the show as a must attend event on the international wine trade calendar.

More than 52,000 visitors attended ProWein 2015 this year, an increase of 7% over last year, further solidifying the show as a must attend event on the international wine trade calendar.

Nearly half of the visitors were international professional  (47%) visiting the 5,970 exhibitors that were showing wines and spirits from 50 countries. In total more than 24,000 international visitors attended the show over the three days.

Michael Degen, the executive director of ProWein said: "We don't want to be a singularly German show, but a truly international show. All of our work being done is to bring international exhibitors, but also international visitors here.  The Canadian buyer meets his Australian supplier at Düsseldorf and that is main thing we have done. We have good momentum now, but it is permanent work to keep it growing."

The director and his team are committed to continuing to grow the international aspect of the show by going to more markets to inform people about what ProWein has to offer. He said: "We want people to come and see the show from new markets like the US and say 'this is the best kept secret' and return to share about what ProWein was like.  Once they are here, they go back and tell more people about it, but it is a long term mission."

Degen is pleased with the continued growth of the show and it doesn't show signs of slowing down any time soon.  He said: "In Europe trade show organisers are happy if they have stable numbers.  There are very few industries and trade shows that have such increasing numbers in space and exhibitors numbers.  I would not know any trade show with such good numbers and visitors numbers are doing just as well."

The show has become increasingly important to the UK trade with a large numbers of the industry in Dusseldorf this week including buyers from most of the major grocers there to do business with the large delegation of UK agencies, importers and distributors. 

Companies like Broadland Wineries and Ehrmanns had taken out their own stands this year to help push their European businesses.

PLB was also there for the first time supporting its new merger with Bibendum with both companies operating from different stands to target their respective off-trade and on-trade audiences. John Osborne, managing director of PLB, said it was vital for a business like its to be at ProWein as the "UK trade now decamps to Dusseldorf" to do business there this week. "We are here to talk to all our major customers in the UK," he said. 

Similarly Julian Dyer from Australian Vintage was busy meeting its major UK customers as well as exploring how it can make inroads in to the European market. But he, along with other major UK players, was quick to stress that it will also be supporting the London Wine Fair in May and that ProWein had established itself as the number one international show, leaving London Wine Fair to concentrate on serving the UK industry.

Robin Copestick of Copestick Murray said he was able to see all his UK customers and discuss trading plans for its growing I Heart brand, but was also there to do business and grow the brand in new markets such as Poland and Canada and its existing 22 export markets. "London Wine Fair is great as it is now all about the UK," he said. "ProWein is now the truly global wine fair, everywhere else is becoming more local. It is like being Jules Verne here, around the world in three days."

José Zuccardi from the Familia Zuccardi Winery in Argentina said: "The show is increasingly more busy and it is becoming more international. We've met with people from Asia, Canada, South Africa, the US.... really from everywhere. Three days is just not enough time, we still aren't finished. We are still having meetings until after 6 pm on the final day."

Johnathan Grieve, the proprietor of Avondale Wine from South Africa said: "It is definitely the most important show in Europe from an international perspective. There was a good spread of customers, with great frequency and quality buyers."

Sven Bruchfeld, a member of the 24 independent vintners group from Chile called MOVI, said: "This is the only fair we have attended this year. It is the best wine fair in the world. It is show that we can come to and see all our customers in a single place. Over three days you can meet with your clients and really have the opportunity to find new leads and contacts as well."

"It has been really good show and quite busy with meetings. It is great opportunity to meet with several clients. It is truly a business show," said Matt Tallentire of the Casella Family Brands from Australia.

Ferando Da Cuhna Guedes, board member of Sogrape from Portugal said: "This show has been very busy with important meetings with our current customers and a chance to showcase some of our new products. It has been a busy fair."

There were more trade visitors from North and South America according to Düsseldorf Messe, particularly among American and Canadian visitors.

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