Vinexpo announces expansion plans in Asia

Vinexpo, the bi-annual international wine and spirits exhibition held in Bordeaux, France, closed today after five days of business between 2,400 exhibitors from 44 countries and visitors from across the world. While firm figures will be released in the next few days, early indications from the event organiser show growing numbers of visitors from outside France. An estimated 48,800 visitors from 148 countries attended with around 40% from other parts of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. 

In contrast to an indifferent economic outlook in many industry sectors, this exhibition revealed a dynamic and growing sector spurred by international dimensions. Exhibitors showed real confidence in the future with the big brand names competing in the creation of impressive stand builds.

An increased number of buyers from North America and especially Canada (up 10%) underlines the upturn. Alain Brunet, CEO of the Quebec Alcohol Corporation said: ”It is a great exhibition; even better then in 2011. It’s alive and buzzing. Morale is high; the recovery has begun.” The QAC spends 750 million euros annually on wines and spirits.

Robert Beynat, CEO of Vinexpo, said: “The number and quality of meetings and the positive atmosphere in the three exhibition halls sends an encouraging message to the whole wine and spirits industry.”

Vinexpo in Asia

Vinexpo Overseas is building on the success of its Hong Kong wine exhibition, by extending its activities in Asia.

This growth is Vinexpo’s response to the needs of wine and spirits professionals seeking to benefit from the strong potential of these markets.

At the heart of the growth markets the international wine and spirit exhibition will take place in Hong Kong next year over three days on May 27, 28 and 29. Vinexpo Asia-Pacific has been held very other year since 1998.

In 2014, the exhibition area will be expanded by 50% to cover 15,000 square metres of stand space. The 2012 Vinexpo Asia-Pacific exhibition welcomed 1,050 exhibitors from 28 countries. Over three days they showcased to 15,800 wine and spirit sector professionals from all countries in the region, the largest range of wine and spirits ever assembled in Asia-Pacific.

Hong Kong is at the crossroads of the markets of Asia and China, which is now the fifth largest wine consumer in the world and the market with the biggest potential.

Vinexpo/IWSR research forecasts that between 2012 and 2016 consumption of wine in China will grow by 40%. This is the biggest growth in wine consumption in the world (leading even the US and Russia. Asia-Pacific accounts for 61.5% of world consumption of spirits. Between 2012 and 2016 spirits consumption will grow by 13.6%.

Well-established in Hong Kong, Vinexpo Overseas is expanding with a new exhibition in Beijing.

Vinexpo in Beijing

While this exhibition will be different, it will conserve the DNA of Vinexpo as an international exhibition for professionals. Vinexpo in Beijing will take place over two days from Monday, June 2 to Tuesday, June 3, 2014. The event will hold 200 exhibitors in turnkey stands at the Beijing Exhibition Centre. Between 3,000 and 4,000 wine and spirit professionals from the Bejing region and the North of China will be targeted.

Xavier de Eizaguirre, chairman of Vinexpo and Vinexpo Overseas says: Vinexpo has a strong reputation in China. More and more sector professionals from China travel to Hong Kong and even to Bordeaux. We have received a large number of requests to set up Vinexpo in China.

Vinexpo Nippon in Tokyo

Vinexpo Overseas has also decided to respond to calls from Japanese importers by setting up a unique event in Tokyo. It will take place over two days from Saturday November 1 to Sunday November 2, 2014, in the Prince Park Tower in Tokyo.

This business-to-business event will be relevant to the whole of the wine and spirits sectors but a special emphasis will be placed on the on-trade.

Major importers that already exhibit at Vinexpo events will be able to reserve stands among the 400 places to be made available for an expected 3,000 visitors.
 

Vinexpo images by Frédéric Desmesure & Philippe Labeguerie

20 June 2013 - Felicity Murray